Monolena primuliflora

Plant Name: Monolena primuliflora

Tankquility Catalogue #: TQs-04577

Synonyms/Trade Names:

Original Plant Sourced as: Monolena primuliflora

Plant Family: Melastomataceae

Plant Native to¹: Brazil North, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panamá, Peru

Plant Type: Terrestrial, Epiphytic

Image Details²:

Image 1: Terrarium grown Monolena primuliflora in fruit.

Image 2: Detail of cystoliths deposited on the leaf surface of Monolena primuliflora.

General Information and Cultivation³: A reasonably large growing, moisture-loving plant. Purportedly an epiphyte in nature, it is usually cultivated terrestrially. Suitable only for large terraria due to the maximum size specimens can attain. Growth habit is spreading, with mature terrarium grown plants reaching 400mm in width. Leaves shoot from a large caudex. Older leaves develop cystoliths; an excretion from the plant deposited on the leaf surface to attract insects. Easy to cultivate. Monolena primuliflora prefers humid terrarium conditions with a small amount of ventilation. Tankquility cultures this species at about 23° Celsius (higher temperatures are ok) in a granular substrate based on akadama and scoria. We sit the base of the pot in water. Fertilize moderately.

Propagation by leaf cutting and seed is easy.

Ease of Care: Easy

Plant Size/Portion Size:

Mature plant: Mature plant with several leaves; well-formed caudex.

Further Reading:

¹ Distribution is taken from Plants of the World Online (https://powo.science.kew.org/) unless stated otherwise.

² All images used on the Tankquility website have been taken of plants growing in our nursery.

³ The general and cultural information provided is based on our own experience and observation. If we supply information from others, we have acknowledged the source.