Abstract (eng)
Episcia lilacina is a low, stoloniferous, terrestrial herb. Vegetative propagation via stolons is an effective strategy to expand the habitat.
The colours and patterns of the leaves of Episcia lilacina are varied. Almost all conceivable variations between dark red and bright green occur. Anthocyanins are responsible for the red colour. One possible explanation for the leaf colouration of Episcia lilacina is that chloroplasts of shade plants are not able to deal with enhanced light exposure and therefore were destroyed. On the contrary, chloroplasts of green morphs are adapted to higher sun irradiation from the beginning, thus no additional anthocyanin development was observed.
Episcia lilacina produces single, hypocrateriform flowers of zygomorphic symmetry. The delicate flowers have a lilac-coloured limb, nectar hidden in a spur, with a long distance between the sexual organs and the nectar. The flowers are protandrous. Sexual reproduction is largely replaced by stolon spreading. The fruit of Episcia lilacina is a capsule with globular, reddish or white seeds. The maximum amount of secreted nectar by one flower is 5,4 µl. Further on, the nectar has a sugar concentration of 27%. Both facts indicate butterflies as legitimate pollinators.
However, the only observed flower visitor of Episcia lilacina during the investigation period was a species of stingless bees (subfamily Meliponinae). These bees are not the legitimate pollinators, but secondary ones.