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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.
Gelsemium sempervirens Ait.
Borderline half hardy, vigorous, slender, twining perennial with stems that spiral anti-clockwise, narrow glossy leaves, to 5cm long, and clusters, to 8cm across, of fragrant yellow flowers, to 3cm long, with darker throats, in spring and summer. To 6m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Genista anglica L.
Fully-hardy, spiny deciduous shrub, sometimes procumbent, with small but showy, pea-like yellow flowers in spring and early summer. To 60cm. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Genista canariensis L.
Frost-tender, unarmed, broom-like shrub with trifoliate, white-hairy leaves and terminal inflorescences of fragrant, bright yellow flowers. To 2m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Genista canariensis L. var. atleyanus
See Genista canariensis L. for a description of the species. IPNI relates Cytisus atleyanus Hort. ex K.Koch to Cytisus canariensis, with the additional note decumbens, suggesting a prostrate form but I have been unable to confirm this.
Genista canariensis L. var. ramosissimus
See Genista canariensis L. for a description of the type. The variety ramosissimus has shorter and more numerous racemes and the leaflets are smaller and smoother above [RHSD].
Genista canariensis L. var. rhodopnoa
For information on the species see Genista canariensis L. I have found no specific description of rhodopnoa and am unsure if it is worthy of status as a variety or should be considered as a synonym. Cytisus rhodopnoa (Webb & Berthel.) Schouw, the name published in 1847, is given as a synonym of Teline canariensis (L.) Webb & Berthel. by D.J. Mabberley [Taxon, 33(3) p.439/1984]. In this paper Mabberley gives ‘rhodaphne’ as an alternative to ‘rhodopnoa’.
Genista italica Lodd. ex G.Don
Fully-hardy evergreen shrub. To 90cm. [JD].
Genista maderensis (Webb & Berth.) Lowe
Frost-tender evergreen shrub or small tree with silvery young branches, trifoliate leaves and short terminal racemes of up to 12, fragrant, golden-yellow, pea-like flowers. To 6m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Genista stenopetala Webb & Berth.
Fully-hardy evergreen shrub with flattened branchlets, abundant trifoliate leaves, and racemes of yellow flowers. Reportedly to 6m but usually of dwarf habit in gardens and often grown as a pot plant. [Hortus].
Gentiana asclepiadea L.
Hardy perennial with lance-shaped leaves and solitary, axillary azure blue flowers, spotted purple within. To 45cm. [RHSD, Hortus].
Gentiana septemfida Pall.
Hardy perennial with lance-shaped leaves and blue flowers, narrow to wide bell-shaped, spotted white inside, in terminal clusters. Variable with many forms. [RHSD, Hortus].
Geranium richarsonii Fisch. & Trautv.
Woody-based perennial with deeply cut seven-lobed leaves and black-veined white flowers, to 3cm across, in early summer. To 45cm. [RHSD, Hortus].
Gesnera braziliensis unidentified
I have found no reference to a plant of this name.
Gesnera leopoldi Scheidw. ex Planch.
Cormous gesneriad with dark green heart-shaped leaves, purple beneath, and tall spikes of tubular scarlet flowers.
Gesneria x donkelaariana Lemair
It was described in the Floricultural Cabinet under new or rare plants as ‘a robust plant. The leaves are nearly heart-shaped, 8 inches across, green, tinged with purple and red. The flowers are produced in terminal heads; and plants about 9 inches high bloomed freely. Each blossom is about 2 inches long, in the form of one of the scarlet-blossomed Penstemon; they are of a rosy-red colour, very neat and pretty.’ ‘The inside of the flower is white.’ [FC p.99/1854. FC p.147/1854].
