Optimara Violet Glossary: R-Rom

Radicle: Also called radicle root. The first rootlet to emerge from a germinating seed.

Ramona: Rhapsodie variety. Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size). Introduced 1972. More information.

Rangy: Describes an African Violet on which the leaves and stems have become abnormally elongated. A rangy African Violet is typically symptomatic of a cultural problem, i.e., not enough sunlight, pot size too small or temperature too warm.

Rebecca: Rhapsodie variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, blue flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1995. (AVSA Reg. No. 8351) More information.

Receptacle: On African Violet and other plants, the swollen tip of a pedicel from which the calyx and the rest of a flower emerge.

Red Light: The red portion of the light spectrum. To be effective, artificial grow lights must emit light in both the red and blue parts of the spectrum. Red light is essential for African Violets to bloom.

Red Reverse: Leaf type. Describes an African Violet leaf which has a reddish-purple underside.

Red Spider Mites: A common species of Mite known to feed on African Violets. See Spider Mites.

Relative Humidity: Measure of air moisture. See Humidity.

Rembrandt: Optimara variety belonging to the Artist's Palette series. Named for the 17th century Dutch painter, Rembrandt. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size). Flowers are frilled, pink stars with splashes of purple. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1995. (AVSA Reg. No. 8335) More information.

Renoir: Optimara variety belonging to the Artist's Palette series. Named for the French impressionist painter, Auguste Renoir. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are pink with purple splashes. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1997. More information.

Repellent: Type of pesticide used to repel pests, i.e., a pesticide formulated to keep pests away from African Violets and other plants, rather than killing them. Many organic pesticides are of this sort. For an example, see Neem.

Repotting: Transferring an African Violet from one pot to another. Normally, this means potting up, but it can also mean potting down. Also see Mold Potting.

Respiration: Process by which plant tissue converts plant carbohydrates into energy.

Restricted Use: Describes a pesticide which, as classified by the EPA, requires a pesticide license to use. Contrast with General Use.

Rhapsodie: Popular trademark for African Violets. Introduced in 1956 by Holtkamp Greenhouses. The Rhapsodie trademark includes hundreds of varieties available worldwide. Some of the early Rhapsodie varieties include Rhapsodie In Blue and Rhapsodie In Pink. All current Rhapsodie varieties feature women's names. Also see Optimara.

Rhapsodie In Blue: Early Rhapsodie variety. Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, blue flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1962. Renamed Alrun.

Rhapsodie In Pink: Early Rhapsodie variety. Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers. Introduced 1962. Renamed Sophia.

Rhizoctonia: A fungus known to attack the leaves and stems of African Violets. The most distinct symptom of Rhizoctonia is the oval or peanut-shaped spots which the fungus produces on the leaves. These spots have a distinct outline and are mottled yellow within. If left untreated, Rhizoctonia can be fatal. More information.

Rhizoecus americanus: Root Mealy Bug. A common species of Mealy Bug known to feed on African Violets. See Soil Mealy Bugs.

Rhizoecus dianthi: Pritchard Mealy Bug. A common species of Mealy Bug known to feed on African Violets. See Soil Mealy Bugs.

Rhizoecus pritchard: Outdated nomenclature (scientific name) for Pritchard Mealy Bug. The preferred nomenclature is Rhizoecus dianthi. Also see Soil Mealy Bugs.

Rhizosphere: Also called root zone. The immediate environment in which roots function, i.e., the soil and elements which surround the roots of a plant. For African Violets, the rhizosphere is almost always the rootball.

Rhode Island: Optimara variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, pink flowers and dark green leaves. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6592) More information.

Rhodonite: Optimara super miniature variety. See Little Rhodonite.

Richarda: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with dark blue flowers. More information.

Ring Spot: Describes an African Violet leaf which has developed light colored, ring-shaped spots. Normally caused by drops of cold water getting on the leaves. Also see Leaf Spots. More information.

Rio de Janeiro: Optimara variety belonging to the World Traveler series. Extra large, standard African Violet (6-inch pot size). Flowers are two-tone pink stars. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1997. More information.

Rita: Rhapsodie variety developed in 2003 for a special friend of the Govenor of Tennessee. Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink and white flowers. Dark green leaves. More information

Ritali: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, dark blue flowers and light green leaves. Available in the U.S. as Agnes.

Rocky Mountain: Optimara variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, semi-double, bi-color flowers. Flowers are white with a red center. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6593) More information.

Romance: Optimara variety belonging to the Victorian Charm series. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, pink flowers and variegated leaves. Introduced 1996. More information.

Rome: Optimara variety belonging to the World Traveler series. Extra large, standard African Violet (6-inch pot size) with single, dark burgundy flowers and dark green leaves. Introduced 1993. (AVSA Reg. No. 7920) More information.

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