{"id":496,"date":"2025-04-28T10:05:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T15:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/?page_id=496"},"modified":"2026-03-12T15:29:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T20:29:06","slug":"violets","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/index.php\/violets\/","title":{"rendered":"VIOLETS"},"content":{"rendered":"<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; border: 3px solid #ffffff; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"line-height: 23px; text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" aligncenter\" style=\"border: 3px solid #800000;\" src=\"http:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/s-ionantha-bloom.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"320\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #8d38c9;\">An <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Original<\/span> African Violet<br>\n<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; border: 3px solid #ffffff; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"line-height: 23px; text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" aligncenter\" style=\"border: 3px solid #800000;\" src=\"http:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/emily-savage-320.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"320\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #8d38c9;\">A <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Modern<\/span> African Violet<br>\n<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<div class='info1'>Did you know that African Violets are not violets?\u00a0 While they share similar characteristics, African Violets belong to a different botanical genus, Saintpaulia, within the Gesneriaceae family. True violets are members of the Viola genus, in the Violaceae family.<\/div>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1892<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>Discovery of Saintpaulia<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire found a violet-like plant growing in the Usambara Mountains.<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1893<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>Seeds sent to Germany<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The first commercially produced plants were offered by Friedrich in Erfurt, Germany<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1894<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>African Violets arrived in New York!<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Due to the cold weather, they did not survive and earned a reputation of being difficult to grow<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1926<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Seed sent to Los Angeles, U.S.A.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Armacost &amp; Royston, Los Angeles imported seeds from Benary in Germany and Sutton in England.\u00a0 Walter L. Armacost, president and general manager at that time, worked with\u00a0 Mr. Bracey and Mr. Oertel on a strict elimination plan identifying10 varieties \u2013 out of about 1.000 plants \u2013 that had good growth habits, strong character of the foliage, appealing colors, and high bloom count<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1935<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>Original Ten African Violets Introduced in the U.S.A<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The Original 10 \u2014 \u2018Admiral,\u2019 \u2018Amethyst,\u2019 \u2018Blue Boy,\u2019 \u2018Commodore,\u2019 \u2018Mermaid,\u2019 \u2018Neptune,\u2019 \u2018Norseman,\u2019 \u2018Sailor Boy,\u2019 \u2018Viking\u2019 and \u2018#32\u2019 \u2014 were placed on the market in 1936, in the U.S.A., South America, Australia, Canada and many European countries<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1939<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Double Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Double Duchess,\u2019 a mutation of \u2018Blue Boy\u2019 from hybridizer E. Wangbichler, was noted in the AVM as the first double pink blossom. The first registered double blossom is \u2018Lady Catherine\u2019 (#320), registered by hybridizer V. Davis on July 20, 1949<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1940<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Pink Blossom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Pink Beauty\u2019 from hybridizer F. Brockner. At that time African violets were not yet registered as the Master Variety List (MVL) did not exist. He did however, patent it under Patent #514, on May 5, 1942, which meant that anyone who wanted to propagate and sell \u2018Pink Beauty\u2019 would need to purchase \u2018Pink Beauty\u2019 tags to be place on each plant being sold. This patent lasted 17 years.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div><strong>Other Pink blossoms introduced before 1948 are \u2018Dainty Maid\u2019 from hybridizer R. Brown, \u2018Amazon Pink\u2019 from hybridizer Armacost &amp; Royston, and \u2018Pink Girl\u2019 from hybridizer R. Baxter, all were later listed in the MVL with the registration \u201cAVS48\u201d<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1941<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Girl Foliage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Girl foliage is a leaf with a scalloped edge and a white or yellow marking at the base of each leaf. It has nothing to do with the sex of the plant.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Blue Girl\u2019 was not registered in the MVL, but was later listed in the MVL with the registration \u201cAVS48\u201d. Mr. and Mrs. Public of Ulery Greenhouses patented \u2018Blue Girl\u2019 (Patent #535); however, on 07-28-1942<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1942<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First White Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>In 1942, \u2018White Lady\u2019 was the first white blossom African violet. It was later listed in the MVL with the registration \u201cAVS48.\u201d Hybridizer Peter Ruggeri of Silver Terrace Nursey patented \u2018White Lady\u2019 (patent #597) on 08-03-1943<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1946<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Pre-AVSA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>In response to a small notice about the formation of the African Violet Society of America in the February 1947 Better Homes and Gardens, AVSA secretary Alma Wright received thousands of letters from African violet people who wished to join the society.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1946<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First AVSA Show<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>November 8, 1946, the African Violet Society of America (AVSA) is organized in the Hastings Show Room in Atlanta Georgia. Thirty-four cultivars were entered.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1947<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>AVSA Incorporation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>AVSA was incorporated on June 30, 1947. The AVSA is now a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation with an office in Beaumont, Texas, dedicated to society business, education, research, and the culture of African violets<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1947<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Red Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Redhead\u2019 (from hybridizer Merkel) and \u2018Redland\u2019 (from hybridizer V. Starr) are listed under AVS48 in the MVL as the first red blossoms<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1947<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Crown Variegated Foliage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Crown variegation \u2013 when the color of the new leaves in the center of the crown is a lighter color such as white, pink, or yellow, and when these leaves mature, they become greener \u2013 first appeared in 1947.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Silver Flute\u2019 from hybridizer E. Champion was registered\u00a0 as #833 on November 08, 1956 as variegated without the word \u2018crown\u2019. It is said to be the first crown variegated African violet<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 72.04%; height: 43px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black; height: 23px;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1949<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 23px;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black; height: 23px;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>The First Edition of the MVL was published<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>In the African Violet Magazine (AVM) Vol . 1 No. 2, dated 1947, the President Mrs. O. E. Keller\u2019s message in a letter to a member Mrs. K., refers to the establishing of a reliable and permanent nomenclature for African violets. A classification committee was already at work in classifying the different known varieties, so that each one would have a unique name according to its distinctive color of bloom, leaf pattern, form of growth, etc. The first report from the classification committee was dated, February 25, 1949, which included 28 entries. This report was the beginning of the Master Variety List (MVL)<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1949<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Frilled Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Luana\u2019 (#351) was registered by hybridizer J. Furnish on July 05, 1949<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1949<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Semi-Miniature<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Lady Catherine\u2019 (#320) was registered by hybridizer V. Davis on July 20, 1949<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1949<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Ruffled Blossom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Ruffled White\u2019 (#560) was registered by hybridizer Good &amp; Reese on December 01, 1949<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1949<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Fantasy Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Fantasy\u2019 (#217) was registered by hybridizer R. Behnke\/Naylor on December 05,1949<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1950<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>The first African Violet Handbook for Judges and Exhibitors<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Ruth G. Carey wrote the first African Violet Handbook for Judges and Exhibitors, which was adopted by the AVSA Executive Board on May 13, 1950. In 1977, she assigned the copyright to the African Violet Society of America, Inc. Since that time, it has been revised by an AVSA Committee. In 1981, the title was changed to \u201cThe African Violet Society of America Handbook for Growers, Exhibitors and Judges.\u201d<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1950<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>The First Miniature<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>A miniature is defined in the MVL as a variety of African violet that, when fully mature, is between 3 and 6 inches in diameter.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div><strong>\u2018Diane\u2019 (#172) was registered by hybridizer Anderson on August 14, 1950. Others that followed were \u2018Miss Liberty\u2019 (#385), registered by hybridizer F. Tinari on April 29, 1951, and \u2018Little Geneva Princess\u2019 (#342), registered by hybridizer R. Baxter on November 02, 1952<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1950<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Geneva Edge Blossom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Lady Geneva\u2019 first appeared in 1950. The term \u201cgeneva edge\u201d is used to describe blossoms with a white edge,\u00a0 \u2018Lady Geneva\u2019 is not registered or listed in the MVL.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Queen Geneva\u2019 (#501) was registered by hybridizer O. Silcott on August 01, 1951<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1950&#8217;s<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Russian Varieties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>In the late 1950\u2019s, Dmitrii Zalesskii, the Director of the Botanical Garden of Leningrad State University hybridized the first varieties, \u2018Goluboi Dunai\u2019 (\u2018Blue Danube\u2019) and \u2018Sneg i Ten\u2019 (\u2018Snow and Shadow\u2019). In the early 1960\u2019s Boris and Tatiana Makuni introduced their first double fringed \u2018Natalie.\u2019 Since 2002, there have been many successful hybridizers from Russia<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1952<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Variegation<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Marvin\u2019s Silver Girl\u2019 (#692) was registered by hybridizer Marvin on January 26, 1952<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1952<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Coral Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018All Aglow\u2019 (#7) was registered by hybridizer Behnke on May 10, 1952<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1952<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Star Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The first star blossoms appeared in 1952 with \u2018Purple Star\u2019 and \u2018Star Sapphire\u2019 from Robert Craig Co., Pennsylvania. These two varieties were not registered. \u2018Blue Sensation\u2019 (#780) by hybridizer Graham became the first registered star flower on May 15, 1955<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1953<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Bell Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Blue Buttercup\u2019 (#42) was registered by hybridizer Fischer on March 23, 1953<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1954<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Double Delight<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Mrs. Hotchkiss and Mrs. Anderson admire the outstanding specimen of \u201cDouble Delight\u201d entered in the 1954 St Louis Show by Mrs. Hotchkiss<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1954<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Pink Double Blossom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>The 1954 convention in St Louis was much anticipated for the big news of \u201cdouble pinks\u201d \u2013 not just one but eight new introductions: one from Fischer\u2019s, two from Ulery\u2019s and five from Tonkadale\u2019s Greenhouse, exhibiting for the first time as a commercial. Tonkadale took the blue ribbon for \u2018Double Pink\u2019, Ulery took the Red ribbon for their \u2018Double Pink\u2019 and Fischer took the white ribbon for \u2018Pink Fringette.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Later in the year, \u2018Double Pink Cheer\u2019 (#186), \u2018Double Pink Cloud\u2019 (#187), and \u2018Double Pink Puff\u2019 (#188), were registered by hybridizer L. Lyon on October 29, 1954<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1954<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Trailing African Violet<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Tinari\u2019s Geneva Trailer\u2019 (625) was registered by F Tinari on December 31, 1954<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1955<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Green Edged Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018T-V Cut Velvet\u2019 (#717) was registered by hybridizer M. Vallin on November 25, 1955<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1956<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Cupped Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Frilled Blue Lace\u2019 (#806) was registered by hybridizer M. Rand on September 01, 1956<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1957<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Wasp Blossom and Bustle-back Foliage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>In 1957, Jimmy Dates received a plant named \u2018Bustles\u2019 from Mrs. Hotchkiss of Peoria, Illinois. This sport showed up in a pan of \u2018Prince Purple\u2019 leaves. It is from this plant that Jimmy hybridized and introduced sixty new varieties, of which eight had wasp-type blossoms and bustled leaves. Two were introduced in 1964: \u2018Pink Wasp\u2019 and \u2018Spootnik\u2019 (#1498) were registered by hybridizer A. Dates on November 30, 1964<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1958<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Tommie Lou Variegated Foliage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Tommie Lou\u2019 (#1744) was registered by hybridizer T. Oden on October 25, 1967<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1961<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Mosaic Variegated Foliage<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Lilian Jarrett\u2019 (#2902) was registered by hybridizer F. Tinari on September 28, 1989<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1963<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Coral Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Although, \u2018Coral Satin\u2019 first appeared in 1963, it was not registered for two years. \u2018Coral Satin\u2019 (#1536) was registered by hybridizer F. Tinari on August 6,1965<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1965<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Green Blossom<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Pat\u2019s Pet\u2019 (#1550) was registered by hybridizer L. Lyon on September 13, 1965<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1973<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Standard Trailer<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Violet Trail\u2019 (#2468) was registered by hybridizer L. Lyon on August 15, 1973<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1974<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Mini Trailer<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<div><strong>\u2018Pixie Blue\u2019 (#2598) and \u2018Pixie Pink\u2019 (#2599) were registered by hybridizer L. Lyon on September 16, 1974.<\/strong><b><\/b><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1978<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>First Variegated Trailer<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Blue Star Lou\u2019 (#3302) was registered by hybridizer H. Rienhardt on January 23, 1978<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1979<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Micro-miniature<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Pip Squeek\u2019 (#3603) was registered by hybridizer L. Lyon on February 6, 1979. The world\u2019s smallest African violet in Snoopy\u2019s hat, arrangement and photo by Lyndon Lyon<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1979<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Semi-miniature Trailer<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Cirelda\u2019 (#3620) was registered by hybridizer P. Tracy on March 01, 1979<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1980<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Thumbprint Blossom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>In AVM, \u201cThe earliest thumbprint I remember seeing was \u2018Melodie Kimi,\u2019 which we first saw in 1980 at the New Orleans convention. It was not registered until much later but it was a showstopper at that time\u201d \u2014 Joyce Stork<\/strong><\/p>\n<div><strong>\u2018Melodie Kimi\u2019 (#8100) was registered by hybridizer Sunnyside\/Levy on September 15, 1994. The thumbprint trait is not searchable in First Class<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1980<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Chimera Blossom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Granger\u2019s Desert Dawn\u2019 (#4050) and \u2018Granger\u2019s Valencia\u2019 (#4051) were registered by hybridizer Eyerdom on September 15, 1980<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1984<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Space Violets<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>25,000 Optimara seeds were launched into space aboard NASA\u2019s space shuttles. The seeds were intended to be in space for six months, but they remained orbiting the earth for nearly six years. One mutation is that the Optimara violets have an abundance of flowers and never stop blooming. The series of varieties with the names beginning \u2018Optimara Ever_\u2019 was cultivated from the space seeds. \u2018Optimara Everglades\u2019 was the first of the Optimara Ever series registered by Holtkamp on April 11, 1990<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1992<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Yellow Blossom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018His Promise\u2019 was hybridized by N. Blansit in 1992<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>1997<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Chimera Variegated Foliage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Rob\u2019s Lucky Penny\u2019 (#8611) was registered by hybridizer R. Robinson on May 31, 1997<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>2000<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First No-Petals<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Saintpaulia \u2018Botanika\u2019 is an evolutionary mutation. This variety first appeared in England prior to 2000 and was introduced to Germany through the Dutch flower market. Angelika Richter with the Pflanzen-Beier Greenhouse In Mannheim, Germany, knowing Saintpaulia \u2018Botanika\u2019 was something special, shared a post with a picture on the web in November of 2000.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>A close examination by Jeff Smith revealed that what would otherwise have been normal petals were developed into partial stamens and yellow anthers (pollen sacks) on the edge of incomplete lower petals. This heavy bloomer with virtually no petals \u2014 just clusters of the bright yellow anthers \u2014 has not been registered with AVSA<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>2005<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>First Registered Russian Varieties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Belye Nochi\u2019 (#9496) was introduced in 2003 and registered by hybridizer Evgeii Arkhipov on December 05, 2005. This variety was judged by Paul Sorano when he visited Dom Fialki (The House of Violets, Moscow) in 2004 and was awarded the Best in Show for unusual color and fantasy. Although there have been many Russian varieties introduced since the late 1950\u2019s, they were not registered until 2005<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>2005<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Oddities in Evolution<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Optimara NeverFloris\u2019 is an African violet with beautiful green leaves and hundreds of green blossom buds which do not open. It was developed by the Holtkamp research center in Germany. The idea is to have a rich texture base for floral designs, performing like foliage which lasts for many months.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>This avant-garde plant received the prestigious Rabensteiner Award for the \u201cBest Marketable Plant Novelty\u201d for 2009 in Germany. \u2018Optimara NeverFloris\u2019 has never been registered by Holtkamp<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>2006<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>Revision of the Species<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>New emphasis on the original species has been a growing trend since the 1980\u2019s but it reached a peak after the Darbyshire revision of 2006, which reclassified and reduced the number of species. Through further studies (as of March 2020) Saintpaulia is now recognized as a sub-species of Streptocarpus<br>\n<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>2020<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>New Types of Variegated Foliage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Spontaneous variegated foliage consisting of random patches of light and dark green is seen in \u2018Optimara Loyality\u2019 and \u2018Optimara Charity.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Cosmic variegated foliage with light yellow spots of different sizes in the leaves is seen in \u2018Cosmic Fairy.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Both new types can be reproduced consistently and are stable under most growing conditions<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>2021<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Credits<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>This timeline is based on Dr. Jeff Smith\u2019s article \u201cAVSA 75th Anniversary: African Violet Firsts\u201d in the AVM January-February 2021 issue, Volume 74 #1.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Photos (<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">not yet added to this page<\/span>) are extracted from issues of the African Violet Magazine in the Biodiversity Heritage Library or the First Class database unless otherwise noted<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr class=\"thick\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 503px;\" border=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\"><center><b><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><b>2025<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/center><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 5px; border: 3px solid black;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><b>Future<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What&#8217;s in store for the future?\u00a0 Guess we&#8217;ll just have to wait and see&#8230;<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Original African Violet A Modern African Violet &nbsp; 1892 Discovery of Saintpaulia Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire found a violet-like plant growing in the Usambara Mountains. &nbsp; &nbsp; 1893 Seeds sent to Germany The first commercially produced plants were offered by Friedrich in Erfurt, Germany &nbsp; &nbsp; 1894 African Violets arrived in New York! [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/496"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=496"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1657,"href":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/496\/revisions\/1657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lenwbrown.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}