AnnaBelle: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with bell, light blue flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 2006 in the Belle Series.
Androecium: See Stamen.
Angela: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, red flowers and medium green leaves. Available in the U.S. as Delaware.
Angelica: Rhapsodie variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1988. (AVSA Reg. No. 6977) More information.
Angiosperm: A flowering plant which has the capability of reproducing by seed.
Anita: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, pink flowers and medium green leaves. Available in the U.S. as Virginia.
Anika: Rhapsodie variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, pink and white flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 2005..
Anka: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, pink flowers and medium green leaves. Available in the U.S. as Oregon.
Annemarie: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, white flowers and dark green, girl-type leaves. Available in the U.S. as Denver.
Annette: Rhapsodie variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, pink flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1972. Renamed Colorado.
Anni: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, pink flowers and medium green leaves. Available in the U.S. as New Jersey.
Annie: Rhapsodie variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and dark green leaves. Introduced 1988. (AVSA Reg. No. 6978) More information.
Anther: Also called pollen sac. The part of an African Violet's stamen that contains pollen.
Anthocyanin: Sometimes called violanin. In African Violets and other plants, the pink and purple pigment of plant tissue. While, in most African Violets, the dominance of chlorophyll tends to mask the presence of anthocyanin, it can sometimes be seen in red reverse leaves. Other pigments in plants include caroteniod and xanthophyll.
Antigua: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, bi-color flowers. Flowers are blue with a white edge. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1991. Improved 1996. (AVSA Reg. No. 7481) More information.
Antje: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size). Flowers are blue stars. Leaves are medium green. Available in the U.S. as New York.
Apache: Optimara miniature variety. See Little Apache Girl.
Apatite: Optimara super miniature variety. See Little Apatite.
Apex: Leaf tip.
Aphids: Also called Greenflies or Plant Lice. Insects known to feed on African Violets. Aphids measure 1/16 to 1/8 inch in length and come in various colors, including black, brown, green, red and pink. They have pear-shaped bodies with long antennae and legs. Aphids tend to cluster on the underside of leaves, where they feed on the juices of African Violets. If left untreated, Aphids can cause a lot of damage, eventually leading to an African Violet's demise. They also secrete honeydew which may host Sooty Mold. The damaged caused by Aphids is compounded by the fact that many of them carry viruses. More information.
Aquamarine: Optimara super miniature variety. See Little Aquamarine.
Aquarius: Optimara variety. Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, blue flowers and medium green, girl-type leaves. Introduced 1988. (AVSA Reg. No. 6940) More information.
Arachnid: Class of arthropods which includes spiders and Mites.
Arapahoe: Optimara miniature variety. See Little Arapahoe Girl.
Arizona: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, red flowers and dark green leaves (red reverse). Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6544) More information.
Arkansas: Optimara variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, two-tone red flowers and medium green leaves (red reverse). Introduced 1987. Improved 1996. (AVSA Reg. No. 6545) More information.
Armored Scale: Classification of Scale Insects, i.e., Fern Scale, which have hard, separable shells covering their bodies. See Scale.
Armyworms : Hairless caterpillars known to feed on the leaves of African Violets. Armyworms are the larvae of various moth species. More information.
Arthropod: Phylum which includes insects and other insect-like creatures, such as arachnids and isopods.
Artificial Light: Light source other than the sun. Includes grow lights, which are generally fluorescent and provide the full range of light (i.e., blue light to red light) necessary for African Violets and other plants to grow.
Artist's Palette: Optimara series which features standard African Violets (4-inch pot size) named for famous painters. The most distinctive characteristic of Artist Palette varieties is their uniquely patterned, bi-color flowers which are often described as having "splashes" of color.
Aruba: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size). Flowers are blue stars with a white edge. Leaves are medium green (red reverse). Introduced 1991. (AVSA Reg. No. 7482) More information.
Asako: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Miniature African Violet (2-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and dark green leaves (red reverse). Available in the U.S. as Little Shoshone Girl.
Asta: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, semi-double, blue flowers and medium green leaves. Available in the U.S. as Maryland.
Astrid: Rhapsodie variety. Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size). Introduced 1974. More information.
Atlanta: Optimara variety. Compact African Violet (3-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and dark green, girl-type leaves. Introduced 1987. Improved 1988. (AVSA Reg. No. 6546 and 6942) More information.
Auckland: Optimara variety belonging to the World Traveler series. Extra large, standard African Violet (6-inch pot size) with semi-double, bi-color flowers. Flowers are white with a blue edge. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1996. More information.
Auxin: Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Growth hormone produced by African Violets and other plants. Often used in organic rooting powders to encourage root growth. The concentration of auxin, at any specific part of an African Violet, is inversely related to the amount of light which that part of the plant receives. The reaction of auxin, particularly in the petioles, will make the plant grow towards the light. Thus, in addition to regulating growth, auxin helps to maximize the amount of light that an African Violet is receiving. Also see Phototropism.
Avermectin: Naturally-occurring antibiotic produced by the bacterium, Streptomyces avermitilis. Because of its insecticidal properties, avermectin is often used to control Mites. Though "natural," avermectin is extremely toxic.
AVSA : See African Violet Society of America.
AVSA Registration : Since 1948, an official method for recording new cultivars. To qualify for registration, new cultivars must be reproduced through at least three generations. As a registered cultivar, the plant receives a number which is recorded with the name of the variety, the name of the hybridizer and any characteristics by which the African Violet can be identified. Also see Master Variety List.
Axil: The juncture of a petiole (leaf stem) with the crown or the juncture of a pedicel (individual bloom stem) with a peduncle.
Azadirachtin: See Neem.
Azalea Pot: A relatively shallow pot recommended as the preferred container for growing African Violets. The depth of an Azalea pot is equal to three-quarters the diameter of the pot, as measured at the rim. Contrast with Standard Pot.
Aztec: Optimara miniature variety. See Little Aztec Girl.
Azurite: Optimara super miniature variety. See Little Azurite.
| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Optimara Main Page |
| Doctor Optimara | Optimara Field Guide | Contact Optimara |
Copyright 1999 Optimara/Holtkamp Greenhouses, Inc. Nashville, Tennessee. Optimara and the Optimara logo are registered trademarks of International Plant Breeding, A.G., Switzerland.