a genus of plants of the family Compositae. The plants are herbs and subshrubs with small yellow-flowered inflorescences. There are more than 50 species, distributed in tropical Africa and Madagascar. The genus Cineraria is related to the genus Senecio, and some of its species are often classified in the latter genus.
The plants are usually used in ornamental horticulture. The dusty miller (C. marítima), from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, has a thick silvery pubescence and pinnatipartite leaves. It is used as an ornamental in flower beds and borders. The florists’ cineraria (C. cruenta), from the Canary Islands, has been cultivated for its beautiful blossoms in greenhouses in Europe since the early 19th century. The tomentose herbaceous perennial is 40–60 cm high. The leaves are cordate with toothed edges and an alate petiole. The numerous heads are gathered in corymbs; cultivated varieties have white, light blue, violet, purple, red, or pink inflorescences.