The Magnificent Ten

Ever wondered what the original set of Saintpaulia looked like? I have and of course obtaining photographs even more difficult. However, here is a description of the originals, but no images, so use your visual imagination...

Blue Boy easy of propagation, generous flowering quality, quantity of bloom, depth of colour, flexibility for shipping – and this fine plant still holds that enviable position.

Sailor Boy particularly free-flowering with a bright sea blue blossom held well above a glossy green foliage is a very splendid African violet.

The English seed produced eight African violets that still hold their place among collections as among the best.

Admiral This plant has a tendency to grow flat. The leaves are a deep dull green, slightly quilted and cupped downward, ovate with slightly cordate (heart shaped) base and an almost smooth margin. Flowers are dark blue, slightly tinged with violet in clusters of from three to five produced very freely above the foliage.

Amethyst The plant has an upright habit of growth. The leaves are medium green tinged with purple on back of leaf. The leaves are ovate, glossy, slightly quilted with toothed or dentate edge. The petioles are tinged with rose and extend to the length of 75 to 90mm. Flowers are large and bloom profusely in clusters of 6 to 8 standing well above the foliage. The top petals have a tendency to have a deeper shade.

Viking The plant has a compact, flat habit of growth. Leaves are dark green with a light streak up the centre. The underside of the leaf is a reddish purple, giving the leaf a deep rich colour. As leaves mature, they take on a glossy quilted appearance. Petioles are green flushed with purple and short forming a compact rosette. Flowers are a deep purple which many times show a slight marking around the lobes. These flowers are small but produced many flowers in clusters of from five to seven on many flower stems.

Mermaid The plant is a compact rosette. The leaves are small round and a glossy medium green, quilted on 3 to 3 ½ petioles. Flowers are a light blue, a very good bloomer. Doubt about this plant belonging to the Armacost and Royston collection has now been cleared up and though it did not appear in previous articles it was introduced by the aforesaid firm.

Norseman produced large then average blooms. Plant has a droopy compact method of growth. Leaves are ovate with almost smooth edges, acute tip and rounded bases. Leaves have a velvet appearance, glossy with quilted, overlaid with hairiness. The plant has a tendency to colour on the underside. Flowers are round clustered in 6-7 on average petioles. The flowers are the nearest true blue in a medium shade of any African violet. This plant is a very heavy bloomer and a prize in any collection.

Neptune This plant has a flat growing habit. Leaves are egg shaped, quilted and shiny; cupping upward and often very spooned. The flushing on the underside of the leaves and petioles is very deep making interesting contrast to the rich green colouring on the surface of the leaf. Flowers are medium purple. Neptune is a very distinct variety and a heavy bloomer as well.

Commodore Mature plant is very large with a drooping affect. The leaves are 90mm to 95mm long and 70mm wide cupped downward. Leaves are dark green and purple beneath, quilted with darker valleys. Flowers are a rich reddish purple appearing above the foliage on short petioles in clusters of from 6 to 8. This plant is not a prolific bloomer but the richness of foliage and deep velvet blossoms makes it standout in every collection.

№ 32 A plain name for in some observer’s opinions it exceeds the others in qualities of perfection. The plant is perfect in form, mature leaves growing flat with new leaves having a tendency to stand erect. The young leaves are quite cupped and very red on the underside making a very attractive contrast to the deep rich olive green. The leaves are ovate, slightly dentate (serrated edge), always cupped with veining very definite. Flowers are orchid violet with the same round blossom appearing just above the foliage on short flower stems in clusters of 6 to 7.

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