Plant 20-30 cm tall. Leaves to 20 cm long, 15 cm wide, ovate-oblong, surface wrinkled, red below. Flowers solitary or in few-flowered stalked clusters, cultivated plants available in a wide range of colours and with a velvety sheen due to a fine covering of sleek hairs.

Brazil

A range of cultivars is available in the Fyfiana and Maxima Groups.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Gesneriaceae. In: Spencer, R.. 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.