CHIRONIA, in botany; a genus of the monogynia
order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants.
There are eight species, of which the frutescens is the
most remarkable. It is a native of the Cape of Good
Hope. The root is fibrous, and spreads near the sur-
face of the ground. The stalks are round, and incli-
ning to be ligneous, but are of a very soft texture;
these rise from two to three feet high, sending out
several branches which grow erect, and are garnished
with succulent leaves an inch or more in length, and
about an eighth of an inch in breadth. At the end of
each shoot the flowers are produced, which are tubu-
lous, and spread open at the top; they are of a bright
red colour; and when there are a large number of
flowers open on the same plant, they make a fine ap-
pearance. The flowers are produced from June to
autumn; and the seeds ripen in October. The plants
are propagated by seeds, which must be sown in pots
filled with light sandy earth, and plunged in a mode-
rate hot-bed. In summer they may be inured to the
open air; but must always be sheltered in winter.