Crinum erubescens L.f ex Aiton var. loddigesianum
For further details of the species see Crinum erubescens L.f ex Aiton.
Crinum erubescens is a largely aquatic, somewhat variable bulbous perennial with numerous long, narrow, curved leaves, and scapes, to 60cm long, bearing umbels up to 12, fragrant white, purplish-red or pink flowers, to 12cm long, in summer. [RHSD, Hortus, Baker Am.]. The variety Loddigesianum has dark purple tips to the flowers. Paxton's Dictionary describes the flowers as white and purple. [RHSD, Baker Am., PD].
Horticultural & Botanical History
Botanically described as Crinum loddigesianum by William Herbert in 1837: ‘15. Loddigesianum. […] Ex Mexico. Tube 8 inches, limb tipped with dark purple and striped with the same on the outside. Imported from Mexico by Mr. Loddiges’. [Amaryllidaceae p.253/1837]. Herbert goes on to write: ‘This plant has flowered late this winter, with a six-flowered scape, the bulb having grown to twice the bulk it had last year. Its nearest affinity is evidently to C. cruentum, and it should be removed from the place assigned to it, and stand No. 12, between cruentum and 13. erubescens. Its spathe this year was cleft, not tubed, as before.’ [Amaryllidaceae p.401/1837]
For historical details also see also Crinum erubescens L.f ex Aiton. I have found no illustration of Crinum loddigesianum. The figure used here is of Crinum cruentum from the Botanical Cabinet [LBC no.461/1819]. Conrad Loddiges did not include the plant described by Herbert as Crinum loddigesianum in his Botanical Cabinet.
History at Camden Park
Listed in all published catalogues [B.85/1843]. The earlier importation may have been lost as Macarthur included Crinum cruentum among desiderata to Loddiges’ Nursery on 6th January 1845. [MP A2933-2, p.28].
Notes
Published Apr 27, 2009 - 02:09 PM | Last updated Jun 29, 2012 - 02:12 PM
Crinum cruentum Ker-Gawl. var. loddigesianum Herb. | LBC no.346/1819 | RBGS
| Family | Amaryllidaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Mexico |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | |
| Name in the Camden Park Record | Crinum Loddigesianum
|
| Confidence level | high |