Gloxinia speciosa var. Menziesii

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Now properly known as belonging to Sinningia speciosa, this is a fine illustration of a beautiful form of this variable species.  Note the spots in the throat — could it be that this form is the ancestor of all those spotted hybrids of Sinningia speciosa?  A variety of other prints of this species can be accessed from the Antique Prints page, but a very early print from Edwards’ Botanical Magazine is particularly striking.  Photographs of living plants can be seen here, here and here.