Greek nema - thread, anthos - flower, referring to the thread-like flower stalks.
Climbing or trailing subshrubs (epiphytic in nature), stems rooting at the nodes, woody at the base. Leaves opposite decussate, elliptic to obovate, generally purple below. Flowers 1-8 per cluster with 2 elliptic bracts. Corolla to about 5 cm long, yellow, pink, orange or purple, often curved and pouched, tip with 5 lobes. Stamens 4. Ovary superior. Fruit a capsule [Hypocyrta C. Martius]
Plants in the genus Hypocyrta have been transferred to Nematanthus.
Grown as an indoor plant for the attractive colourful flowers.
Mostly by stem or leaf cuttings.
Filaments united; anthers in a square; disk a gland at the back of the ovary.
26 tropical species from S America.
Arnold (1978), Chautems (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.
An erect plant with glossy dark green leaves and flowers with a red calyx, and corolla yellow with maroon stripes.
