any of several tropical African plants (genus Saintpaulia) of the gesneria family with violet, white, or pinkish flowers and hairy, dark-green leaves, often grown as house plants
See African violet in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Any of various East African herbs of the genus Saintpaulia, having a basal leaf rosette and a showy cluster of violet or sometimes pink or white flowers. African violets are grown as indoor ornamentals.