Cineraria - cineraria (English spelling)

A winter-intolerant annual plant of the Asteraceae family (APG classification: Asteraceae). It is commonly called cineraria because people dislike the "shi" in "cineraria" as it is believed to lead to death. Its Japanese name is also Fukigiku (butterbur chrysanthemum) or Fukizakura (butterbur cherry blossom). It is native to the Canary Islands in Africa. Its leaves are broad and egg-shaped like butterbur, and its stems grow straight up, with small chrysanthemum-like flower heads at the end of the stems. The flowers come in colors such as crimson peach, peach, wisteria blue, purple, and white, and many have colored outer petals or white outer petals with a snake-eye pattern. Along with primulas, it is a typical potted flower that blooms in March and April, but some have been shipped to the market from late November recently, and the range of flowering periods has expanded. It is also used in flower beds and planters after April when there is no risk of frost.

There are three main types: the Grandiflora type, which has large flowers with diameters of 7-10 cm and not many flowers; the Multiflora type, which has small flowers with diameters of 4-6 cm, but produces so many flowers that they cover the plant and reach a height of about 30-40 cm; and the Daruma type, which is considered to be an intermediate type between the two types. The Daruma type is a medium-sized type unique to Japan, with many flowers, a short height of 20-30 cm, and a compact plant overall; it is the most common type, and most of the flowers with snake-eye patterns belong to this type.

Propagation is by seed, sowed in a cool place with as little shade as possible from late August to mid-September. After temporary planting, place in a No. 3 pot, and once the plant has grown further, repot it into a No. 5 pot. Cineraria should be grown in full sunlight, and cultivated at temperatures of around 20°C during the day and 5-8°C at night in winter. It is prone to powdery mildew and aphids.

[Hisao Tsurushima February 18, 2022]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

キク科（APG分類：キク科）の不耐冬性一年草。シネラリアのシが死に通ずるとして嫌い、一般にはサイネリアとよばれる。和名をフキギク（蕗菊）またはフキザクラ（蕗桜）ともいう。アフリカのカナリア諸島原産。葉はフキに似た卵形の広葉で茎は直上し、その先に花柄を分枝して小ギク状の頭状花をつける。花色は紅桃、桃、藤青、紫、白色などあり、花弁の外側が有色のものや、外側が白色で蛇の目模様になるものも多い。プリムラ類と並んで3、4月の代表的な鉢花であるが、市場には最近11月下旬ころから出荷されるものがあって、開花期の幅は広がっている。また、4月以降霜のおそれがなくなると花壇やプランター用としても利用される。

　系統は、花径が7～10センチメートルにもなり花つきは多くはない大輪のグランディフローラ系、花径4～6センチメートルの小輪系であるが、花は株を覆うほどたくさんつき、丈は30～40センチメートルくらいになるマルチフローラ系、両系統の中間型とみられるダルマ系の三つに大別される。ダルマ系は日本独特の中輪系で、花つきも多く、丈も20～30センチメートルと低く、株全体がこぢんまりと締まり、もっとも多くみかける系統で、蛇の目模様の花もほとんどこの系統である。

　繁殖は実生(みしょう)により、8月下旬から9月中旬ころまで、できるだけ日よけをした涼しい所に播(ま)く。一度仮植え後、3号鉢にあげ、さらに株が発育した段階で5号鉢に鉢替えする。シネラリアは十分日に当てて育て、冬季は日中20℃前後、夜間は5～8℃くらいの温度下で栽培する。病害虫はうどんこ病が出やすく、アブラムシもつきやすい。

［鶴島久男　2022年2月18日］

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