Chirita

Chirita was a formerly recognised genus of plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to the Indo-Malayan realm of South and Southeast Asia and southern China.

In 2011, the species in the genus were reassigned to several genera, so that Chirita became a synonym, no longer recognized.

Most of the species have showy tubular flowers with five, usually rounded, petal lobes and are becoming increasingly popular as houseplants in temperate regions, much like their cousins the African violets.

However, the former genus name is still sometimes used in horticultural literature, especially for the most commonly cultivated species, Chirita sinensis (now Primulina dryas).

Most can be grown in pots in warm (though some are known to tolerate colder conditions), humid conditions and can be propagated from seed (sown in the late winter) or by taking cuttings in the spring and summer.