Discover the history of Fittonia, including why the plant is commonly called nerve plant. Fittonia gets its common name of nerve plant from the fact that the plant resembles the human nervous system. Fittonia was discovered by two Irish sisters in the late 1800s and gets its name from them. One of the sisters was a writer and botanist.
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Today, we’re adding another story to our Plant Stories Playlist Series, and the stars of this episode are the Fittonia plants, also known as nerve plants. If you’re looking for Fittonia care tips, we have a full video covering that—check it out!
In this video, we’ll explore the background and history of Fittonia—fascinating facts that many plant lovers don’t know.
Fittonia is a creeping, trailing plant native to the tropical rainforests of South America, where it grows as ground cover in shaded areas. It is prized for its stunning, eye-catching foliage with a wide variety of color combinations including red, green, pink, cream, and white.
It’s called nerve plant due to the distinctive veining on its leaves, which resemble the human nervous system. If you’ve ever wondered, the name has nothing to do with toxicity—it’s simply based on appearance. When I first heard the name, I thought it meant the plant might affect your nervous system if eaten—but that’s thankfully not the case!
The name Fittonia honors two Irish sisters: Elizabeth and Sarah Fitton. Sarah was an Irish writer and botanist. Together, the sisters co-authored the 1817 book Conversations on Botany. This rare and historically significant book was first published in April 1817. It includes 20 hand-colored plates and features a series of dialogues between a mother and son that explain the Linnaean system of plant classification and other botanical topics.
Interestingly, the book was originally misattributed to Jane Marcet but is now recognized as the work of the Fitton sisters.
In 1867, the Fitton sisters introduced Fittonia to Europe from its native South American habitat. Their work helped make botany more accessible to women, promoting it as a respectable and enriching subject of study.
So there you have it—a little history on the beautiful Fittonia, thanks to two visionary Irish sisters who helped bring this plant into homes and hearts around the world.
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Fittonia (Nerve Plant) History FAQs
What is Fittonia and where does it come from?
Fittonia, also known as the nerve plant, is a creeping, trailing plant native to the tropical rainforests of South America where it grows as shaded ground cover.
Why is Fittonia called the nerve plant?
The plant is called the nerve plant because of the striking veining on its leaves, which resemble the human nervous system.
Who were the Fitton sisters?
Elizabeth and Sarah Fitton were Irish sisters who co-authored the 1817 book “Conversations on Botany” and introduced Fittonia to Europe in 1867.
What is the book “Conversations on Botany” about?
Published in 1817, the book features conversations between a mother and son about the Linnaean system of plant classification and includes 20 hand-colored illustrations.
How did the Fitton sisters impact botany?
The sisters helped make botany a more accessible and accepted subject for women, inspiring greater interest and participation in plant science.
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