Tab. 4284. 
CHIRITA Sinensis. 
Chinese CJiirita. 
Nat. Ord. CyrtandbaceJ::, DC. (Gesneriace.e Cyrtandrace^, Br .)— 
Didyxamia Angiospermia. 
Gen. Char. {Vide supra, Tab. 4182.) 
Chirita Sinensis-, acaulis, foliis elliptico-ovatis crenatis in petiolum crassum 
trigonum attenuatis, pedunculis erectis rufo-viUosissimis pilis patentissimis, 
corymbis multifioris basi bracteis 2 membranaceis, coroUse lobis 2 sup. 
brevioribus tube inferne subtus carinato, intus caUis duobus liuearibus, 
supra callo lato bdobo, ovario glanduloso-hirsuto. 
Chirita Sinensis. Lindl. Bot. Reg. 1844, t. 59. 
The introduction of this charming plant from China is due to 
the Horticultural Society. Mr. Fortune sent home flowering- 
plants in 1844. Mr. Backhouse (of the York Niusery), to whom 
we owe the possession of the specimens here figured, and who 
has been eminently successful in the cultivation and increase of 
it, speaks of it as follows :— 
“ The largest we had this season had a succession of upwards 
of twenty flower-stems, and some of the strongest of these had 
as many flowers opening in succession; the panicles being dicho¬ 
tomous and flowering in the axil of each fork. Some of the 
stems were nine inches high. The plant is easily propagated in 
moist sand in a warm, humid atmosphere; any portion of a leaf 
will emit leaves and roots. The young plants will however be pro¬ 
bably a year in flowering, and the progress of the scape is at 
first very slow. The plants succeed best in a moist stove, near 
the glass, but require to be shaded when the sun is hot, other¬ 
wise their leaves are sometimes scorched. By having plants in 
different temperatiu’es the flowering may be kept up for many 
months; but a common greenhouse scarcely brings them to per¬ 
fection. We have not ripened seed, the capsules having been 
removed to keep up the flowering.” 
Its habit is that of some stemless Gloasinia, and it continues 
flowering for many months. 
FEBRUARY IsT, 1847. 
