Hi Cometgirl,

That is a pretty broad question. In a nutshell, fantasy violets are two or three colored flowers, where one color is overlaid with dots, puffs or swirls of another or two other colors. I don't know if I answered your question. If not, if you could be more specific that would help us answer it for you.

Larry

Hi Larry:

Thank you for your answer. Yes, you did a good job describing what I thought the Fanfasy Violet looked like.

Thank you!

You can get fantasy flowers on all forms of violets, standards, trailers and mini and semis.

When fantasys sport they sometimes become chimera. That's one good reason to have as many fantasys as you can get!

Nancy

Hi and Thank You, Nancy:

That is very enlightening!

Cometgirl

Hi All:

I just bought an Optimara "Michelle" that is a mixture of pink and lavendar with spots and a couple stripes down the bottom petals. Is this a Fantansy AV?

Thank you, Any input appreciated.

Cometgirl

Optimara Michelle isn't in FC2 (AVSA program which shows pictures and gives descriptions of 15,000 African violets.)

What you have described is fantasy. Optimara doesn't produce a lot of fantasies or variegated plants. So grab them when you see them!

Nancy

Nancy,
You say when plants with fantasy flowers sport, they can become chimera. What tells you that your plant has just sported--because your flowers have just changed?
There is an AV for sale on EBAY and its description is "Chimera like". It is Optimara Everpraise. What tells the seller that its not a Chimera but just looks like one?
Is there a single factor that tells you your plant has just become Chimera.
I've seen AVs for sale that state they are sports of some plant but they don't mention being Chimera.
What's the difference between the two.

OK thanks
just learnin

I don't know a lot about violets yet but i thought you couldn't sport a chimera. I mean you can't put down a leaf from a chimera and get a chimera. I think you can get a flower that looks like a chimera but is not a true chimera.

I think it about covers. True chimeras only come true from suckers, Everpraise has a definite pinwheel pattern, not contrasting colors - but the light blue becomes medium blue in a middle of a petal - and you can propagate it from leaves.

Usually chimera is a rare spontaneous mutation. I read somewhere that to increase the chance of mutation plants (seeds?) are treated with colchicine (it is a serious poison, by the way) - or X-rayed.

Plants naturally mutate, or "sport" quite often, usually not for the best, but sometimes the resulting plant is interesting and worth getting a name.

To my understanding the chimera has significant difference in cells between the middle stripe and edges of the flower, and this genetically different cell structure layers are present in a green tissue as well. If you get a sucker - it has (hopefully) cells of both types, while the plantlet from a leaf is initiated from one type cell only.

That's why the price of chimeras is much higher - propagation rate is low.

I.

Interesting -- I just checked Optimara's Field Guide, and Rhapsodie Michele (or Michelle -- Optimara doesn't seem sure either) is pink with a purple(?) edge, not a fantasy; I wonder if Cometgirl's has sported?

Just a FYI, a sport isn't a true new variety until is has proven to be stable through three generations of propagation (leaves or suckers). So Cometgirl, I'd keep a close eye on your Michele and try propagating it; who knows, you may have something new! It certainly sounds attractive.

Korina, having a couch potato Sunday

Here is a link that might be useful: Rhapsodie Michele

Hi All:

Yes; I am very anxious to see the next blooms on my Michele AV. It had like stripped lines down the middle of the bottom petals. All my plants are doing very well! Lots of blooms. I have some other AVs I think are the Fantasy type, or they look like it.

Thank you - not an expert!
Sincerely,
Cometgirl

Hi Gang,

Are Fantasy African violets grown from the seeds that Park Seeds sells. They call them Fantasy Hybrids, and they come in various colors from seed. I can't tell from the photo if they have the spots.

Also, I'm still a bit confused. Can Fantasy violets be propagated from leaf cuttings in the normal way?

Cordially,

Joe

Here is a link that might be useful: Park Fantasy Violet Seeds