''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

and the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – usually red, yellow, or orange – sometimes resembling a fish in shape. A common name is flying goldfish plants (see also the related '' Nematanthus'') due to the unusual flower shape. The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus after the Latinized spelling of the name of the 16th-century Italian botanist

Fabio Colonna Fabio Colonna (called ''Linceo''; 1567 – 25 July 1640) was an Italian naturalist and botanist. Biography He was the son of Girolamo Colonna, a philologist and antique dealer who was also editor of the fragments of the Latin poet Enniu ...

(Latin: ''Fabius Columnus''). The segregate genus '' Bucinellina'' is considered by many botanists a

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

of ''Columnea''. A full list of the species now accepted in the genus, along with their synonyms, can be found at the World Checklist of Gesneriaceae.

Cultivation

''Columnea'' species grow as epiphytic plants in the wild and require bright light, good air circulation, and a well-drained growing medium that is allowed to dry out slightly between waterings. They are very tolerant of underpotting and seem to bloom best when potbound. Most are tropical plants and are easy to grow under indoor or greenhouse conditions but some species come from high altitudes and require cooler temperatures to grow well or bloom. Many of the species are seasonal bloomers, but hybrids and cultivars can be more or less continuously blooming. The hybrid ''Columnea'' × ''banksii'' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

Species

The species classified under ''Columnea'' include the following: *'' Columnea albiflora'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *'' Columnea aliena'' (C.V. Morton) C.V. Morton *'' Columnea allenii'' C.V. Morton *'' Columnea ambigua'' (Urb.) B.D. Morley *'' Columnea ampliata'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog *'' Columnea angustata'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog *'' Columnea anisophylla'' DC. *'' Columnea antiocana'' (Wiehler) J.F. Sm. *''

Columnea argentea ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Griseb. *''

Columnea arguta ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' C.V. Morton *''

Columnea asteroloma ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog *'' Columnea atahualpae'' J.F. Sm. & L.E. Skog *'' Columnea aurantia'' Wiehler *''

Columnea aurea ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Warsz., nom. nud. *'' Columnea bilabiata'' Seem. *''

Columnea billbergiana ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – u ...

'' Beurl. *''

Columnea bivalvis ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' J.L. Clark & M. Amaya *'' Columnea brenneri'' (Wiehler) B.D. Morley *''

Columnea brevipila ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Urb. *''

Columnea byrsina ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''

Columnea calotricha ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Donn. Sm. *''

Columnea capillosa ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''

Columnea cerropirrana ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog *'' Columnea chiricana'' Wiehler *''

Columnea chrysotricha ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''

Columnea ciliata ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *'' Columnea citriflora'' L.E. Skog *''

Columnea cobana ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Donn. Sm. *'' Columnea colombiana'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *'' Columnea consanguinea'' Hanst. *''

Columnea coronata ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' M. Amaya, L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''

Columnea coronocrypta ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' M. Amaya, L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''

Columnea crassa ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' C.V. Morton *'' Columnea crassicaulis'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *'' Columnea crassifolia'' Brongn. ex Lem. *''

Columnea cruenta ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' B.D. Morley *''

Columnea cuspidata ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''

Columnea dictyophylla ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Donn. Sm. *''

Columnea dielsii ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Mansf. *''

Columnea dimidiata ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' (Benth.) Kuntze *'' Columnea dissimilis'' C.V. Morton *''

Columnea domingensis ''Columnea domingensis'' is a species of plant in the family Gesneriaceae. According to LiogierLA Flora De La Espanola, Volume 7. La flora de la Española · Issue 28 of Serie científica. Alain Henri Liogier. Publisher, Fernand Lanore, 1995. it ...

'' (Urb.) B.D. Morley *'' Columnea dressleri'' Wiehler *''

Columnea eburnea ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''

Columnea elongatifolia ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *'' Columnea ericae'' Mansf. *''

Columnea erythrophaea ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Decne. ex Houll. *'' Columnea erythrophylla'' Hanst. *'' Columnea eubracteata'' Mansf. *''

Columnea fawcettii ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' (Urb.) C.V. Morton *''

Columnea fernandezii ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' M. Amaya *''

Columnea filamentosa ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' L.E. Skog *''

Columnea filifera ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''

Columnea filipes ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Oliver *'' Columnea fimbricalyx'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''

Columnea flaccida ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Seem. *''

Columnea flava ''Columnea'' is a genus of around 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the tropics of the Americas and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – us ...

'' Martens & Galeotti *''Columnea flexiflora'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea florida'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea formosa'' (C.V. Morton) C.V. Morton *''Columnea fritschii'' (Rusby) J.F. Sm. *''Columnea fuscihirta'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea gallicauda'' Wiehler *''Columnea gigantifolia'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea glabra'' Oerst. *''Columnea glicensteinii'' Wiehler *''Columnea gloriosa'' Sprague *''Columnea grandifolia'' Rusby *''Columnea grisebachiana'' Kuntze *''Columnea guatemalensis'' Sprague *''Columnea guianensis'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea guttata'' Poepp. in Poepp. & Endl. *''Columnea harrisii'' (Urb.) Britton ex C.V. Morton *''Columnea herthae'' Mansf. *''Columnea hiantiflora'' Wiehler *''Columnea hirsuta'' Swartz, non Auct. *''Columnea hirsutissima'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea hirta'' Klotzsch & Hanst. *''Columnea hispida'' Swartz *''Columnea hypocyrtantha'' (Wiehler) J.F. Sm. & L.E. Skog *''Columnea illepida'' H.E. Moore *''Columnea inaequilatera'' Poepp. in Poepp. & Endl. *''Columnea incarnata'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea incredibilis'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea isernii'' Cuatrec. *''Columnea kalbreyeriana'' Masters *''Columnea katzensteiniae'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''Columnea kienastiana'' Regel *''Columnea kucyniakii'' Raymond *''Columnea labellosa'' H. Karst. *''Columnea laevis'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea lanata'' (Seem.) Kuntze *''Columnea lariensis'' Kriebel *''Columnea lehmannii'' Mansf. *''Columnea lepidocaula'' Hanst. *''Columnea linearis'' Oerst. *''Columnea longinervosa'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea lophophora'' Mansf. *''Columnea lucifer'' J.L. Clark *''Columnea maculata'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea magnifica'' Klotzsch ex Oerst. *''Columnea manabiana'' (Wiehler) J.F. Sm. & L.E. Skog *''Columnea mastersonii'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''Columnea matudae'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea medicinalis'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''Columnea mentiens'' B.D. Morley *''Columnea microcalyx'' Hanst. *''Columnea microphylla'' Klotzsch & Hanst. ex Oerst. *''Columnea minor'' (Hook.) Hanst. *''Columnea minutiflora'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea mira'' B.D. Morley *''Columnea moesta'' Poepp. in Poepp. & Endl. *''Columnea moorei'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea nariniana'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea nematoloba'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea nervosa'' (Klotzsch ex Oerst.) Hanst. *''Columnea nicaraguensis'' Oerst. *''Columnea oblongifolia'' Rusby *''Columnea ochroleuca'' (Klotzsch ex Oerst.) Hanst. *''Columnea oerstediana'' Klotzsch ex Oerst. *''Columnea orientandina'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea ornata'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''Columnea ovatifolia'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea oxyphylla'' Hanst. *''Columnea pallida'' Rusby *''Columnea panamensis'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea paramicola'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea parviflora'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea pectinata'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea pedunculata'' M. Amaya, L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''Columnea pendula'' (Klotzsch ex Oerst.) Hanst. *''Columnea perpulchra'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea peruviana'' Zahlbr. *''Columnea picta'' H. Karst. *''Columnea polyantha'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog *''Columnea poortmannii'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea praetexta'' Hanst. *''Columnea proctorii'' Stearn *''Columnea pubescens'' (Griseb.) Kuntze *''Columnea pulcherrima'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea pulchra'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog *''Columnea purpurata'' Hanst. *''Columnea purpureovittata'' (Wiehler) B.D. Morley *''Columnea purpurimarginata'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea purpusii'' Standl. *''Columnea pygmaea'' J.L. Clark & J.F. Sm. *''Columnea querceti'' Oerst. *''Columnea queremalensis'' M. Amaya, L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''Columnea raymondii'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea repens'' (Hook.) Hanst. *''Columnea reticulata'' M. Amaya, L.E. Skog, C.E. González, & J.F. Sm. *''Columnea rileyi'' (Wiehler) J.F. Sm. *''Columnea ringens'' Regel *''Columnea robusta'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog *''Columnea rosea'' (C.V. Morton) C.V. Morton *''Columnea rubida'' (C.V. Morton) C.V. Morton *''Columnea rubra'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea rubriacuta'' (Wiehler) L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea rubribracteata'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea rubricalyx'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea rubricaulis'' Standl. *''Columnea rubrocincta'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea rutilans'' Swartz *''Columnea sanguinea'' (Pers.) Hanst. *''Columnea sanguinolenta'' (Klotzsch ex Oerst.) Hanst. *''Columnea scandens'' L. *''Columnea schiedeana'' Schlechtend. *''Columnea schimpffii'' Mansf. *''Columnea segregata'' B.D. Morley *''Columnea sericeo-villosa'' Suess. *''Columnea serrata'' (Klotzsch ex Oerst.) Hanst. *''Columnea silvarum'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea skogii'' Amaya M. *''Columnea spathulata'' Mansf. *''Columnea strigosa'' Benth. *''Columnea subcordata'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea suffruticosa'' J.F. Sm. & L.E. Skog *''Columnea sulcata'' L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''Columnea sulfurea'' Donn. Sm. *''Columnea tandapiana'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog & L.P. Kvist *''Columnea tenella'' L.P. Kvist & L.E. Skog *''Columnea tenensis'' (Wiehler) B.D. Morley *''Columnea tenuis'' Klotzsch ex Oerst. *''Columnea tessmannii'' Mansf. *''Columnea tincta'' Griseb. *''Columnea tomentulosa'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea trollii'' Mansf. *''Columnea tutunendana'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog *''Columnea ulei'' Mansf. *''Columnea ultraviolacea'' J.F. Sm. & L.E. Skog *''Columnea urbanii'' W.T. Stearn *''Columnea verecunda'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea villosissima'' Mansf. *''Columnea vinacea'' C.V. Morton *''Columnea vittata'' (Wiehler) L.E. Skog *''Columnea xiphoidea'' J.F. Sm. & L.E. Skog *''Columnea zebrina'' Raymond

References

External links

''Columnea''
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The Genera of Gesneriaceae
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The Gesneriad Reference WebWorld Checklist of Gesneriaceae
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2573370 Columnea, Epiphytes Gesneriaceae genera