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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.
Prunus persica ‘White China’
A Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. cultivar. I have found no record of a peach of this name in the contemporary literature but it is very likely to be a seedling of ‘Shanghai’, which see.
Prunus persica (L.) Batsch.
Bushy, smooth-limbed, small tree or large shrub with lance-shaped leaves and solitary or paired rose-colored flowers, followed by edible round or oval fruits. To 8m. [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. var. flore pleno
A number of double-flowered varieties of the common peach were available at this time, and this may be an introduction from China or an older variety. In either case it is a spreading, deciduous tree with solitary, bowl-shaped white, pink or red flowers, before the leaves, in spring, followed by edible red-blushed fruit. [RHSE, Hortus]. The variety grown by Macarthur is unknown but the discrepancy in dates means that it cannot be one of the very double forms introduced by Robert fortune in 1845.
Prunus tenella Batsch.
Fully-hardy, bushy, deciduous shrub with upright shoots and bowl-shaped, bright pink flowers, solitary or in profuse clusters of 2-3, produced with the leaves in spring, followed by almond-like fruit. To 1.5m. [RHSE, Hilliers’].
Pseudanthus species unidentified
Small heath-like shrubs, leathery leaves, alternate or apparently opposite, flowers in the upper leaf axils, the males clustered on short peduncles, the female solitary. Three species are found in the Sydney region:
Pseudanthus pimeleoides Sieb. Ex Spreng., uncommon and growing in sandy soils in mist gullies.
Pseudanthus orientalis (Baill.) F.Muell., growing in coastal dunes and heath.
Pseudanthus divaricatissimus (J.Muell.) Benth. found on rocky sites on higher land. [FNSW].
Macarthur’s plant is likely to be one of these.
Pseudanthus species unidentified
Pseudanthus are small heath-like shrubs with leathery leaves, alternate or apparently opposite, and flowers in the upper leaf axils, the males clustered on short peduncles, the female solitary [FNSW].
Pseuderanthemum bicolor Radlk.
Frost tender evergreen perennial shrub with ovate leaves, to 20cm long, and salverform white flowers, spotted with crimson-purple, in summer. To 15cm. [RHSD, Hortus].
Pseudocydonia sinensis (Dum.-Cours.) Schneid.
Frost-hardy, spreading shrub or small tree, occasionally semi-evergreen, with peeling grey and white bark, oval, finely-toothed leaves, to 10cm long, and solitary, cup-shaped pink flowers in spring, followed by egg-shaped yellow fruits, to 15cm long. To 6m. [RHSE, Hortus, Hilliers’].
Pseudotsuga taxifolia Britton
Very large, densely branched evergreen conifer, the lower branches of mature trees often resting on the ground, bark thick, corky and fissured, cones pendulous, to 10cm long. To 80m or more. A very important source of timber. [RHSD, Hortus].
Psidium cattleyanum Wienw.
Shrub with smooth, leathery, obovate leaves, to 8cm long, white flowers and deep red, round fruits, to 3cm long, with pale purple to white flesh, sweet, juicy, tasting somewhat of strawberries. To 6m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Psidium cattleyanum Wienw. var. lucidum
For a description of the species see Psidium cattleyanum Wienw. The variety lucidum has whitish-yellow fruit rather than reddish-purple, and yellow flesh. [RHSD]. The fruits are often a little larger.
Psidium guajava L.
A very variable, tender, low tree with oval, elliptic leaves, hairy beneath, and white flowers followed by green to yellow, globose, edible fruit, to 20cm long, with white, yellow or pink flesh and a musky scent and flavour. [RHSD, Hortus].
Psoralea aphylla L.
Half-hardy evergreen shrub with erect or drooping branches, nearly leafless, trifoliate leaves, and fragrant, pea-like blue and white flowers in summer. To 2m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Psoralea species unidentified
An unidentified Psoralea or related species, no description. Psoralea aphylla L., which see, is first listed in 1850 and may be this plant.
Pulchranthus variegatus (Aubl.) B.R.Baum, Reveal & Nowicke
Frost tender evergreen shrub with red striped flowers. To 60cm. [JD, PD].
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