Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Rondeletia odorata Jacq.

Frost-tender, bushy shrub with oblong, puckered, wavy-margined leaves, to 10cm long, and dense terminal clusters, to 10cm long, of fragrant, tubular, orange to red, yellow-throated flowers in autumn.  To 3m.  [RHSE, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This brilliant plant is a native of the Havannah, whence we received it through the kindness of our friend W. J. M’Leay, Esq. in 1830. […] The flowers are exceedingly rich in colour, and make a striking appearance, being quite as splendid as Ixora coccinea, if not more so, although our specimen was by no means a strong one.’  [LBC no.1893/1834]. 

‘A native, it is said, of Havana, and of Mexico.  Our specimen was communicated by Dr. Graham from the Edinburgh Botanic Garden in November, 1841, and its flowers were truly brilliant and of a vermilion colour, as they are described to be in its native country; so that I cannot but look upon the plant figured by Dr. Lindley in the Botanical Register above quoted, with more of yellow than red in their colour, as a variety.  The fragrance, however, as that Botanist justly observes, is not very powerful.  Its flowers render it a great ornament in the stove, where alone it can be cultivated successfully.  [BM t.3953/1842].

Introduced to Britain from Cuba in 1830, presumably a reference to Loddiges’ specimen.  [MB p.242/1835].  Fl.Ca. p.75/1838. 

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.834/1850].  Obtained from the London Horticultural Society and Kew Gardens.  It was included among desiderata in a letter to John Lindley dated 15th February 1848 [MP A2933-1, p.157] and to Kew at about the same time [MP A2933-1, p.165] and marked ‘arrived’ on Macarthur’s copies.  It was also requested of Loddiges’ nursery on 13th February, 1848 [MP A2933-1. p.172] and apparently received from them as Macarthur commented in a letter dated 1st February 1849 that ‘Rondeletia speciosa is shewing a number of embryo panicles of blossom’.  [MP A2933-1, p.185].  

Notes

Published Feb 08, 2010 - 03:04 PM | Last updated Feb 08, 2010 - 03:12 PM

Figured are oblong-lanceolate leaves and dense corymb of red, yellow-centred flowers.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.3953, 1842.

Rondeletia odorata Jacq. | BM t.3953/1842 | BHL

Family Rubiaceae
Category
Region of origin

Caribbean

Synonyms
  • Rondeletia speciosa Lodd.
  • Rondeletia splendens Regel.
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Rondeletia speciosa 

Confidence level high