Chirita 'Keiko'

Photo by Ron Myhr
Grown by Ron Myhr

C. 'Keiko' is a hybrid of Chirita subrhomboidea and C. fimbrisepala, made by Toshijiro Okuto of Japan.   It is a small-growing Chirita, readily manageable under similar lighting conditions to African Violets, although it prefers cooler temperatures and probably tolerates more light.

A side profile of the flower can be seen by clicking here. 

When the flowers of C. 'Keiko' first open, they point straight down.  After a couple of days, they straighten out to a more conventional horizontal position,  where the decorative throat lines and   yellow and orange markings can be better seen.

The same cultivar, grown  under different conditions, appears to be a lighter color.