Seemannia – Ledin's Gesneriads

Seemannia is a genus consisting of 4 species which produces scaly rhizomes. This genus was previously included in Gloxinia. Within the species of Seemannia there is some naturally occuring variations, namely within Seemannia sylvatica and Seemannia purpurascens. Apart from natural variation, a number of hybrids and selections have been made both within this genus and as intergeneric hybrids with closely related genera. ×Seemakohleria (Seemannia × Kohleria), ×Achimannia (Achimenes × Seemannia) and ×Gloximannia (Gloxinia × Seemannia) are examples of intergeneric hybrids made involving Seemannia.

This genus being mainly distributed in the Andes, most species seem to be a lot more hardy to lower temperatures in comparison to other rhizomatous gesneriads occuring in the hobby. Even if I personally haven’t grown Seemannia outdoors during the summertime here in Sweden the chances are good these plants will perform well as seasonal plants. I base this on other peoples experience growing Seemannia outdoors in a temperate climate.

List of Seemannia species, cultivars and intergeneric hybrids

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Name	Hybridizer	Year	Parentage	Comments
Seemannia gymnostoma				This species is naturally occuring in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. This species does not have a lot of variations in nature, but a deviating light flowering form of the species can be seen in this observation.
Seemannia nematanthoides				Naturally occuring in Argentina and Bolivia. Often referred to as Seemannia nematanthodes.
Seemannia purpurascens
Seemannia sylvatica
Seemannia sylvatica “Yellow”				This form of S. sylvatica is (as far as I’m aware) not yet in cultivation. According to two observations uploaded to iNaturalist, there seems to be a population of this yellow flowering S. sylvatica occuring in the valley between the lake Corani and Villa Tunari, along the road RN4, Cochabamba, Bolivia. These two observations can be seen here and here
×Gloximannia ‘Circe’	Frances Batcheller	1991	×Gloximannia ‘Medea’ × Seemannia gymnostoma Which equals: (((Seemannia sylvatica × gymnostoma) × Gloxinia perennis) × (Seemannia sylvatica × gymnostoma)) × Seemannia gymnostoma
×Gloximannia ‘Medea’	Frances Batcheller	1983	×Gloximannia ‘Arion’ × Seemannia ‘Medusa’
×Gloximannia ‘Arion’	Frances Batcheller	1981	Seemannia ‘Medusa’ × Gloxinia perennis
Seemannia ‘Medusa’	Frances Batcheller	1976	Seemannia sylvatica × gymnostoma
The japanese Seemannia sylvatica – hybrid group			Unknown, but seems to be hybrids including, or selections of Seemannia sylvatica	It seems there is at least one plant nursery based in Yamanashi, Japan called Hosaka Flora (保坂フローラ) which grows an unknown number (it seems to be at least three different ones according to photos) of compact Seemannia cultivars (シーマニア). Often sold as a seasonal potted plant under the name “Witch Hat” or “Jack O’Lantern” in autumn and around Halloween. I am not sure if this nursery is the creator of these hybrids, or if they originate from elsewhere. Personally I’m limited in my search for more information about these plants due to not understanding japanese.

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