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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.
Alstroemeria pelegrina L. 'Alba'
See Alstroemeria pelegrina L. for details. ‘Alba’ is a white-flowered form.
Alstroemeria pulchella L.f.
The identification of Macarthur’s Alstroemeria psittacina and Alstroemeria pulchella presents some difficulties. It is possible that Alstroemeria pulchella L.f. is the correct identification for both plants although they probably differed somewhat in appearance. Another possibility is that Macarthur’s A. pulchella was Alstroemeria ligtu subsp. simsii (Spreng) Ehr.Bayer, which see.
Frost-hardy, tuberous-rooted perennial with mauve-spotted stems and green flowers overlaid with red, in summer. To 1m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Alstroemeria pulchra Sims
Similar to Alstroemeria ligtu, (see Alstroemeria ligtu subsp. simsii (Spreng) Ehr.Bayer), and considered by some to be a form of ligtu. It has longer and narrower leaves and larger, variously coloured flowers, the perianth segments acute, with purple spots in the upper half. [RHSD, Hortus, Baker Am., Fish].
Alstroemeria x vanhouttei Hort.
William Herbert saw these plants at Louis van Houtte’s nursery and wrote of them: ‘They are of every tint, from scarlet to lemon-colour, and from crimson to pale pink, variegated with white. It would have been difficult to find two plants, amidst the great number then in bloom, of which the flowers were exactly similar, some being remarkable for the delicacy, as others for the brilliancy, of their hues. Another very long bed of younger plants raised from last years seed of the former, was in vigorous progress, and already showed many flower buds. The foliage of all the plants was nearly similar, the average height of the inflorescence being, I should think, between 12 and 18 inches. Mr. Van Houtte informs me that he purchased the whole from the person who raised them; and, from their appearance, I should pronounce them mules between A. Hookeriana and haemantha. I cannot assert that A. pulchra and aurantiaca may not have been in part concerned with their production, but I rather attribute it to Hookeriana and one of the best varieties of haemantha, such as Barclayi. They were planted in a mixture of vegetable earth and strong soil, with the Ghent sand, and in some parts the plants seemed to have suffered from the compost being too light and sandy. I do not recollect having ever seen a bed of flowers so beautiful; and I should think Mr. Van Houtte will find it difficult to supply the demand for them, when their merit shall become fully known.’ [Gard. Chron. July 12th, 1845].
Althaea officinalis L.
Fully hardy summer flowering perennial with pale rose to lilac-pink flowers, like a shorter growing Hollyhock. To 2m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Althaea rosea (L.) Cav.
Biennial or perennial with lobed leaves and tall spikes, to 3m or more, of large single or double flowers, to 12cm across, in shades of red, white and purple. Ancient garden plant, single and double varieties grown in European gardens since at least the 16th century. [RHSD, Hortus].
Alyxia species unidentified
These are possibly tropical Australian species collected by Dr. Leichardt. Alyxia is a genus of about 80, mostly tropical shrubs with small, white, usually sweet-scented, five-petalled flowers resembling propellers, followed by glossy, orange or red fruits. There are 9 species in Australia, 3 of which, Alyxia buxifolia, A. ruscifolia and A. spicata are in cultivation. [Wrigley].
Amaryllis belladonna L.
A frost-hardy, deciduous, bulbous perennial, the leaves evenly spreading or sub-erect, in a basal cluster, usually narrowly strap-shaped, sometimes broader, tapering towards the end, with a prominent midrib. Inflorescence a spreading, somewhat one-sided, umbel on an erect scape, appearing before the leaves, the flowers trumpet-shaped, the pedicels shorter than the perianth, elongating when fruiting. Stout purple or purple-green spathes, often exceeding 60cm tall, bear umbels of 6 or more funnel-shaped, scented flowers in autumn. It is a highly variable species in the wild, in width and length of leaves, in circumference, colour and height of scape, but particularly in flower colour, which, although usually pink, ranges from white to almost red. There are several named garden forms. [RHSE, Hortus, Baker Am.].
Amaryllis belladonna L. var. blanda
See Amaryllis belladonna L. Blanda has delicate white blooms, changing to pink with age. It usually has more flowers per stem than the type, larger, more fragrant, opening wider with a more distinct tube and tending to be held more horizontally. [Herbert, Baker Am., PFG pl.68/1853].
Amberboa moschata (L.) DC.
Fully hardy annual with scented, fringed flower heads, resembling large corn-flowers, in white, yellow, pink or purple, in spring and summer. To 60cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Amelanchier canadensis Medik.
Deciduous tree with toothed, ovate, usually cordate, wooly leaves, to 8cm long, and drooping racemes of white flowers followed by sweet maroon-purple fruits, to 1cm across. Gives good autumn colour. To 10m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Amicia zygomeris DC.
Frost-hardy, woody-based perennial with mid-green leaves, consisting of 2 pairs of heart-shaped leaflets and racemes of 3-10 pea-like yellow flowers with purple keels in autumn. To 2.2m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Amorpha fruticosa L.f.
Fully-hardy, fast-growing, spreading shrub with 30cm long leaves composed of up to 33 leaflets, and orange- or yellow-anthered, purple-blue flowers in narrow racemes in summer. To 5m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Amorpha fruticosa L.f. var. coerulea (Lodd.) E.J.Palmer
See Amorpha fruticosa L.f. Coerulea is a blue-flowered form from South Carolina. [JD].
Amorpha fruticosa L.f. var. oblongifolia E.J.Palmer
See Amorpha fruticosa L.f. for a description of the species. Oblongifolia is a cultivar with narrow leaves and purple flowers. [RHSD].
