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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.
Achimenes ‘Tugwelliana’
A hybrid between Achimenes patens Benth. and Achimenes longiflora DC., which see, raised by Mr. Carmichael, gardener to G. C. Tugwell Esq. of Crowe Hall, Bath. According to an advertisement placed by R. Glendinning, Chiswick Nursery, London, in The Gardeners' Chronicle, Achimenes ‘Tugwelliana’ has deep violet-purple flowers, about the size of Achimenes patens. [GRA p.38, GC p.305/1850].
Achimenes ‘Venusta’
Achimenes ‘Venusta’ is a hybrid between Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs. var. rosea and Achimenes patens Benth. Bred by Backhouse and Sons of York, A. venusta has rich violet-purple flowers, spotted with brown. [GRA p.38].
Achimenes erecta ‘Elegans’
For a description of the species see Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs. A variety or cultivar with deep rosy lilac flowers, larger than the type [FC p.194/1847].
Achimenes erecta ‘Eximia’
Probably a cultivar of Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs var. rosea, synonym Achimenes rosea Lindl. It is not listed in the Gesneriad Register-Achimenes and I have found no other reference to this plant.
Achimenes erecta ‘Intermedia’
‘Intermedia’ is probably a cross between Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs and its naturally occurring variety Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs. var. rosea. [GRA p.13]. See the individual entries for a description of the parents. Its name suggests that it is intermediate in appearance between them.
Achimenes erecta ‘Pyropaea’
For a description of the species see Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs. Pyropaea suggests that this variety or cultivar had particularly brightly coloured red flowers.
Achimenes erecta ‘Splendens’
Probably a cultivar of Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs var. rosea, synonym Achimenes rosea Lindl. it is not listed in the Gesneriad Register-Achimenes and I have found no other reference to this plant.
Achimenes erecta ‘Superba’
Presumably a cultivar of Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs var. rosea, synonym Achimenes rosea Lindl. It is not listed in the Gesneriad Register –Achimenes. It may be synonymous with A. coccinea (Scop.) Pers. ‘Superba', described as ‘fine, deep scarlet, with slight marks down the centre of the petals, somewhat larger than A. coccinea. [MB p.124/1847]. A. coccinea (Scop.) Pers. is another synonym of A. erecta.
Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs
Frost-tender, long-stemmed, trailing, rhizomatous perennial, with leaves dark green above, often red-flushed beneath, and numerous solitary, long-tubed, bright red or rose-pink flowers from summer to autumn. To 45cm. [RHSE, GRA p.12].
Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs var. rosea
For a description of the species see Achimenes erecta (Lam.) H.P.Fuchs. Achimenes rosea is a variety of Achimenes erecta which occurs naturally with with rich deep rose flowers. It is treated here as a naturally occurring variety rather than cultivar. See also Achimenes erecta ‘Superba’, A. erecta ‘Eximia' and A. erecta ‘Splendens’.
Achimenes grandiflora DC.
Frost-tender, erect, rhizomatous perennial, with leaves dark green above and flushed red beneath, and solitary or paired, reddish-purple flowers with white eyes and purple-dotted throats, from summer to autumn. To 60cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Achimenes grandiflora DC. var. liebmannii (Lem.) Voss
See Achimenes grandiflora DC. for a description of the species. Similar in growth and habit to Achimenes grandiflora but with vivid rose purple flowers, without the whitish blotch at the throat. To 45cm.
Achimenes hirsuta ‘Carmesii’
Achimenes ‘Carmesii’ is a form of Achimenes hirsuta Lindl. I have found no specific description. See Achimenes hirsuta Lindl. and Achimenes skinneri Lindl. for further information.
Achimenes hirsuta Lindl.
Today Achimenes skinneri and Achimenes hirsuta are regarded as synonymous but they were usually regarded as separate species in the Victorian literature and for that reason are given separate entries here. [RHSD]. See Achimenes skinneri Lindl. for the principal entry. It seems probable that Achimenes hirsuta and Achimenes skinneri as grown by Macarthur were noticeably different in appearance.
The Botanical Register describes Achimenes hirsuta as resembling Achimenes pedunculata [Benth.] and, like the latter, it bears bulblets in the axils of its leaves and branches. [BR f.55/1843]. Its red flowers have a deep rose-coloured border, the lobes notched. Allen describes Achimenes hirsuta with ‘hairy leaves and rose-coloured flowers with a yellow eye’.
Achimenes longiflora ‘Major’
See Achimenes longiflora DC. for a description of the type. Major is a variety with metallic green leaves, lavender to pale purple flowers with a golden throat and yellow tube, longer than the type, to 7.5cm long. [RHSD].
