Very possibly that you are correct. Hybrids are much less hairy... Sinningias are pollinated by hummingbirds and the pollen is fertile several days ahead the stigma reducing the chance of selfing. I find that if the plant in bloom gets shaken - like if you knock your plant stand every so often - the chance of selfing increases - Sinningia cardinalis will put seeds this way. No experience with S.leuchotricha - but they are pretty close.

Follow-up question. How does one know if pollination has been successful? I assume the ovary enlarges and when ripe turns dark?????

Irina, thanks. This may not be a correct assumption, but you’re the only one who has responded to me and it means a lot. Is this a species you grow and if so do you have other species/hybrids of Sinningia? Thanks

Irina has grown nearly everything..and probably still has most of it ;)

It about covers.

Actually I have trouble with S.leuchotricha. It grows again for me and I hope this time it will bloom - but more than once a juvenile tuber at some point went to sleep and never woke up...

I grow S. cardinalis peach colored peloric - which sets seeds for me, S. globulosa - it finally started growing again - it was asleep for over a year, S. macrostachya, S. conspicua...S,retzii Black Hill - which blooms non-stop - but the stems are tall and lanky...

Irina, you’ve probably had these form some time. Do you recall where you ontained them. I would like to grow other species. thanks

The best place to find them is Gesneriad Society seed fund. If you are a member of Society - you have the access to these seeds for $3 a package.

The green membership

http://www.gesneriadsociety.org/membership/application/

('Gesneriads' journal is in PDF instead of a paper copy - is $20 a month)

The seeds of species http://www.gesneriadsociety.org/species/

There are seeds of hybrids as well.

Have fun and cover all horizontal surfaces with gesneriads!

I