Sonerila
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| Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture |
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Sonerila (adapted from a native name). Syn., Cassebeeria. Melastomaceae. Herbs or small shrubs of various habit, with ornamental foliage, suitable for the greenhouse. Leaves similar or dimorphous, often membranaceous, entire or serrulate, 3-5-nerved: fls. in scorpioid racemes or spikes, frequently rose, rather large or some small; calyx glabrous or setose, tube turbinate, oblong or campanulate, 3-lobed, the lobes short; petals 3, ovate, obovate, or oblong; stamens 3 (rarely 6, the alternate ones smaller); ovary adherent or almost so to the tube of the calyx, 3-celled: caps. included in the turbinate, cylindrical, ribbed or 3-angled tube of the calyx, 3- valved.—About 75 species, India and the Malay Archipelago. This includes a number of dwarf tender foliage plants which must be grown in the greenhouse all the year round. The plants belong to the same cultural group with Bertolonia, Gravesia, and Monolena, and are distinguished by having their floral parts in 3's. The fls. are usually rose-colored, 1/2 in. across or less, and generally disposed in scorpioid racemes or spikes. The species described here are all caulescent plants with lvs. distinctly petioled, those of each pair being of equal size (except in S. maculata): fls. 3-merous; stamens 3, long-acuminate. It was long thought impossible to grow sonerila and its allies outside of a bell-jar or Wardian case. Gardeners now dispense with the "double glass" and grow these plants in tropical or even temperate greenhouses. For potting material they use a compost of fibrous peat and chopped sphagnum, sprinkled with sand and interspersed with bits of charcoal. The plants should have a partially shaded position, and should never be syringed. Never allow water to remain on the leaves. The species seed freely. The varieties are propagated by division. Sonerilas thrive best in a close and moisture-laden atmosphere with just enough ventilation to keep them from melting or decaying. A temperature of not less than 75° suits them best. Cuttings of well-ripened growth are placed under a glass case or bell-glass in a bottom heat of 70° to 80°. Care must be taken every morning to allow the drops of condensation which gather on the glass to dissipate. For potting material use fine-screened leaf-mold, with plenty of silver sand intermixed and a little finely chopped fresh sphagnum on the top of the pots or pans. These plants have shallow roots, and require plenty of drainage, consisting of fine broken potsherds mixed with either charcoal or finely ground soft-coal clinkers. When the plants have made their full growth (which they do if started at the proper time in early spring) they start into flower. At this time the plants should be hardened off by gradually withholding water, and they should also be kept a little cooler. When fully ripened they may be cut back in order to furnish material for cuttings. Keep the old stools a little warmer and they will gradually start into new growth again. These plants make choice decorative plants in pans or even in wire baskets and can be used for choice table or mantel decorations. A very handsome hybrid between the orientalis and margaritacea groups is called Mme. Paul du Toict. It has the serrate lf. and some of the silveriness of S. argentea, with the numberless minute dots of the S. orientalis group. It is much like Robert Sallier, but the central coloring is bronzy as well as silvery and more broken up by the green. S. marmorata and S. picturata of the trade are not accounted for botanically. CH
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References
- Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
External links
- w:Sonerila. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Sonerila QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
