African violet

American  

noun

1. a popular house plant, Saintpaulia ionantha, of the gesneriad family, having hairy leaves and showy violet, pink, or white flowers.

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African violet British  

noun

1. any of several tropical African plants of the genus Saintpaulia, esp S. ionantha, cultivated as house plants, with violet, white, or pink flowers and hairy leaves: family Gesneriaceae

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Etymology

Origin of African violet

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

In her beige cubicle, an African violet and succulents make do under a fluorescent light.

From Washington Post • Jan. 27, 2016

For example, leaves of the African violet will root if kept in water undisturbed for several weeks.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

And Mr. Duffield’s babies — amaryllis, African violet, a pink trumpet vine — are very happy with all the refracted, reflected light they get, he said.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2011

But not so, perhaps, an African violet on the Tuesday before the big day, followed by Belgian chocolates on Thursday, and a small book of poems on Saturday.

From New York Times • Feb. 6, 2010

“This African violet is almost dead. Louise would be humiliated if she knew.”

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt