B: Symbol for boron, an essential element.
Backcross: Cross-pollination of a hybrid with one of its parent plants. The offspring of this union are also called a backcross.
Bacteria: sing. bacterium. See Bacterial Leaf Blight.
Bacterial Leaf Blight: A condition describing an African Violet which has been attacked by bacteria. The most distinguishing symptoms occur on the leaves, which exhibit soft, oozy, "water-soaked" spots. More information.
Bakers Mealy Bugs: Pseudococcus maritimus. Sometimes called Grape Mealy Bugs. A common species of Mealy Bug known to feed on African Violets. See Leaf Mealy Bugs.
Balanced Fertilizer: Fertilizer which supplies approximately equal percentages of the primary elements. Also see Complete Fertilizer.
Balanced Lighting: Refers to a light source which provides both red and blue light. Balanced lighting is important because African Violets and other plants require both red and blue light to grow and flower.
Baltimore: Optimara variety. Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are white with a purple edge. Leaves are dark green. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6547) More information.
Barbados: Optimara variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, bi-color flowers. Flowers are purple with a white edge. Leaves are dark green. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6548) More information.
Barbara (1): Rhapsodie variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, purple flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1988. (AVSA Reg. No. 6979) More information.
Barbara (2): Holtkamp variety (Europe). Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and dark green, girl-type leaves. Available in the U.S. as Gemini.
Beetles: See Cucumber Beetles, Flea Beetles and Leaf Beetles.
Bell: Bloom type. Describes a single, African Violet flower which has an elongated corolla tube, giving the flower a bell-shaped appearance.
Bella: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, bi-color flowers. Flowers are white with a blue edge. Leaves are medium green. Available in the U.S. as Alabama.
Benary, Ernst: The first commercial grower of African Violets. The Benary greenhouse was located in Erfurt, Germany. Benary provided the seed for two of the first 10 commercial hybrids introduced in 1927: Blue Boy and Sailor Boy.
Benlate: Popular trademark for a fungicide containing Benomyl.
Benomyl: Systemic fungicide. On African Violets, Benomyl is used to treat Botrytis, Powdery Mildew, Rhizoctonia and Root Rot. Benomyl is classified for general use by the EPA.
Berlin: 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 blue with a white edge. Leaves are dark green. Introduced 1991. (AVSA Reg. No. 7912) More information.
Bertina: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, semi-double, pink flowers and dark green leaves. Available in the U.S. as Vanessa.
Best in Class: Award presented to an African Violet which is judged to be the best in its class.
Best of Show: Also called Best in Show. Award presented to an African Violet which is judged to be the best out of the entire show. The Best of Show winner is chosen from among the Best in Class winners.
Betty: Rhapsodie variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are purple and white. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1987. Improved 1995. (AVSA Reg. No. 8339) More information.
Bi-Color: Bloom pattern. Also called bi-colored. Describes an African Violet flower which exhibits two colors.
Biedermeier: Also called Biedermeier-style. See Rosette.
Bine: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and medium green leaves (red reverse). More information.
Biosynthesis: The production of chemical compounds by any living organism. In African Violets and other plants, this most often happens in the leaves with the production of plant carbohydrates. Also see Photosynthesis.
Birgit: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with pink flowers. More information.
Black Vine Weevils: Insects known to feed on African Violets. The adult Vine Weevil is a dark brown beetle which measures about 3/8 inch. Both the Vine Weevil and its larvae can cause extensive damage to African Violets. More information.
Blackflies: Insects known to swarm around African Violets. Blackflies measure about 1/16 inch and are dark in color. Though a nuisance, they are generally regarded as little threat to African Violets. More information.
Blackfoot: Optimara miniature variety. See Little Blackfoot Girl.
Blasting: Condition which describes an African Violet that is shedding young blooms or buds.
Bleaching: See Leaf Bleaching.
Blind Mealy Bugs: See Soil Mealy Bugs.
Bloom: Blossom. Flower. A bud which has opened. On African Violets, blooms perform the reproductive function and include the anthers, calyx, carpels, filament, ovary, ovules, petals, pistil, pollen, sepals, stamens, stigma and style.
Bloom Cluster: All of the flowers supported by a single peduncle. Also see Bloom Stalk.
Bloom Pattern: Sometimes called flower pattern or blossom pattern. Description of a bloom's color characteristics. Some common bloom patterns include bi-color, edged, pinwheel and two-tone.
Bloom Stalk: Sometimes called flower stalk. A single peduncle and all the flowers or buds which issue from it. Also see Bloom Cluster.
Bloom Type: Sometimes called flower type or blossom type. Description of an African Violet bloom's physical characteristics. While there are many known bloom types, the most common are single, double, semi-double, star and frilled.
Blossom: Bloom. Flower. A bud which has opened. On African Violets, blooms perform the reproductive function and include the anthers, calyx, carpels, filament, ovary, ovules, petals, pistil, pollen, sepals, stamens, stigma and style.
Blossom Pattern: See Bloom Pattern.
Blossom Type: See Bloom Type.
Blue Boy: Early African Violet cultivar from which many of today's varieties have been developed. One of the first 10 commercial hybrids introduced in 1927, all of which had blue flowers. It was from Blue Boy that the first double was developed in 1939. Blue Boy is also the variety from which boy-type leaves are named. More information. Also see Plain.
Blue Girl: Hybrid developed from Blue Boy in 1941. Variety for which girl-type leaves are named. See Scalloped.
Blue Light: The blue portion of the light spectrum. To be effective, artificial grow lights must emit light in both the blue and red parts of the spectrum. Blue light is necessary for photosynthesis and, thus, is vital for the development of green leaves and the production of plant carbohydrates.
Blue Topaz: Optimara super miniature variety. See Little Blue Topaz.
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