Plants in the Hortus
Many of the plants described here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861. A large number of additional plants were identified from correspondence, gardening notebooks and other documents surviving in the archives. The Hortus attempts to describe all the plants grown in the gardens at Camden Park and those grown in horticultural enterprises such as orchards and vineyards and includes plants grown outside the gardens in the park-like environs of the Camden Park estate. The Hortus plants served a wide range of purposes in the 19th century household; as ornament, living fences, fibre, dyestuffs, medicines, food and drink from the garden, orchard and vineyard and many others.
Ficus carica ‘Singleton Perpetual’
A cultivar of Ficus carica L. It was probably brought from Italy by J. H. Vivian Esq. It was grown by Mr. Barron in the greenhouse of his house, ‘Singleton’. A correspondent to 'The Gardeners Chronicle' described it as ‘white, much smaller than Marseille, and prolific as an Orlean plum, every joint of every branch of proper growth being studded with a fruit. I suggested to Mr. Barron to call it the ‘Singleton perpetual’ which name I think it is entitled to bear until we find some prior claim to its introduction. With a score of plants of this fig I should have no fear of producing a dish every month of the year.’ [Gard. Chron. 1855].
Ficus carica ‘Small blue from Provence’
A cultivar of Ficus carica L. A number of figs were known as ‘Blue’ and were characterised by a purple or dark brown skin with a thick blue bloom.
Ficus carica ‘White Ischia’
A cultivar of Ficus carica L. This fig is probably synonymous with ‘Green Ischia’, which see.
Ficus carica L.
Somewhat tender deciduous tree with variable but usually 3-lobed leaves and edible fruit of various shapes and colours. To 10m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Ficus elastica Roxb.
Frost tender, evergreen, many-branched tree with oblong, leathery, glossy, dark green, often red-flushed, leaves to 45cm long. Oblong yellow figs are produced in pairs or clusters on mature trees. To 60m. [RHSE, Hortus]. It has been used as a source of natural rubber but the principal source is the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis).
Ficus macrophylla Desf.
Frost tender, wide-spreading evergreen tree with aerial roots, some of which become props. Oblong, leathery leaves are green above and paler beneath. Figs are produced usually in pairs on mature trees in the open. To 55m. [RHSE, Hortus, Beadle].
Ficus pumila L.
Frost tender, root-clinging, evergreen perennial climber. The leaves of the climbing shots are asymmetrical, while those on the non-climbing stem are oblong, leathery and glossy dark green, to 10cm long. The hairy figs are white-dotted green, ripening to purple. To 5m or more. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Ficus sagittata Vahl
Creeping shrub. [JD]. Epiphytic vine when young, tree when mature. Leaves ovate, to 20cm long, figs axillary, solitary, paired or occasionally clustered. [FOC].
Ficus sycomorus L.
Frost tender, thick-branched, sometimes buttressed, briefly deciduous tree, the branches often coming from the ground and ascending fan-like for a spreading crown, with entire leaves, to 15cm or more, paler beneath, and yellow, orange or red figs, to 4cm broad. To 25m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim.
Fully-hardy, clump-forming perennial with leafy stems bearing irregularly pinnate leaves with terminal leaflets to 10cm across, and dense corymbs, to 25cm across, of creamy-white flowers in summer. To 90cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Firmiana simplex W.F.Wight
Rounded tree with smooth bark, lobed leaves, to 45cm long, turning yellow in autumn, and terminal panicles of yellowish-green flowers. To 20m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch.
Frost tender tree with a spiny stem, ovate, pointed leaves, to 10cm, red at first then dark green, and axillary clusters of yellow-green flowers, followed by edible, reddish-brown fruit, 2.5cm across, with yellow-green pulp. To 10m. [RHSD].
Flacourtia species unidentified
Flacourtia sepiaria Roxb., the ‘Hedge flacoutia’ has been particularly recommended for fencing and hedging. Other species have also been used for hedging. [Don]. Macarthur’s plant could well be such a species.
Forsythia viridissima Lindl.
Fully-hardy, erect, deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub with upright shoots, which remain green in the second year, lance-shaped leaves to 15cm long, and bright yellow flowers, 3cm across, usually single but also in twos and threes, in spring. To 2m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
