Greek chemaino — susceptible to cold.
Perennial herbs. Stems with few if any branches, root a fleshy cylindrical, scaly rhizome. Leaves opposite, sometimes strongly unequal, toothed and generally succulent. Flowers axillary, solitary, paired or in clusters, regular to slightly 2-lipped, funnel-shaped or flat-topped, sometimes spurred, lower lobe generally the largest. Sepals narrow, deeply cut. Stamens 4 within the flower, anthers united at the tip. Fruit a 2-valved capsule.
Grown mostly indoors as a range of hybrid cultivars of uncertain origin. Those listed include A. 'Palette' and A. 'Royal Purple'. It is incorrectly assumed that these plants can only be grown by treating regularly with hot water, hence the common name.
Generally by division but rhizome and leaf scales are also satisfactory, as are stem cuttings. Seed occasionally used.
About 25 species from W Indies and Mexico to C America.
Moore (1954a), Townsend (1984).
Source: (2002). Gesneriaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.