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here were listed in the catalogues of plants published by Sir William Macarthur in 1843, 1845, 1850 and 1857 and in an unpublished catalogue dated 1861.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.
Citrus limon ‘Lisbon’
A cultivar of Citrus limon (L.) Burm.f. A spiny irregularly branched tree with oval-oblong leaves, sometimes narrowly winged, and fragrant white flowers followed by oval yellow fruits, acid to the taste. To 4m or more. [RHSD, Hortus].
Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.
Tender, spiny regularly branched tree with a rounded top, the leaves large, dark green, glossy, oval, stalks broadly winged, the flowers white, large, followed by large, pear-shaped, smooth-skinned, lemon-yellow fruit. To 8m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Citrus medica L.
Irregularly branched tree with short spines, oblong, toothed leaves and large, white, red-tinged flowers followed by large oval fruit with a rough, thick rind, the flesh white and acid. [RHSD, Hortus]. The fruit is rarely eaten fresh but the rind is traditionally candied in southern Europe. It is also grown for its aromatic oil. The Buddha’s Hand Citron has long finger-like protrusions and is sometimes grown as an ornamental plant.
Citrus myrtifolia Raf.
Spineless tree with rounded top, the leaves narrow and pointed, the flowers white, followed by round, orange fruit, bitter to the taste. To 8m. [RHSD, Hortus]. Often grown as an ornamental pot plant.
Citrus reticulata ‘Dwarf or Pot Orange’
A Citrus reticulata Blanco cultivar. See Citrus reticulata ‘Mandarin Orange’ for a description of the Mandarin and Tangerine group. I have no specific description of this variety and it is perhaps more likely to be a Sweet Orange rather than Mandarin. See Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck var. ‘Chinese Oval’ for further information on the Sweet Orange.
Citrus reticulata ‘Mandarin Orange’
A Citrus reticulata Blanco cultivar. It is a spineless tree with ascending branches, dark green, glossy, ovate leaves and small white flowers followed by variable, edible, round, orange fruit, typically with loose, thin skin. To 5m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Citrus reticulata ‘Small Mandarin’
A Citrus reticulata Blanco cutlivar. See Citrus reticulata ‘Mandarin Orange’ for a description of the Mandarin and Tangerine group. I have no specific description of this variety.
Citrus reticulata ‘Tangerine’
The tangerine is a cultivar of Citrus reticulata Blanco. See Citrus reticulata ‘Mandarin Orange’ for a description of the Mandarin and Tangerine group.
‘Thorny Mandarin or Tangerine. One of the best-flavoured of all mandarins. Tree a dense bush requiring severe thinning out to bear large fruit; thorny, except some sub-varieties which are thornless. Fruit small to large, according to number of fruit, vigour of trees, and soil and climate; roundish, flattened, stem fine and firmly attached to fruit; skins tight, thin, and smooth, pale yellow. Pulp juicy and aromatic. This fruit becomes dry and puffy if allowed to hang too long.’ [Despeissis p.243/1903].
Citrus sinensis ‘Chinese New Year Orange’
Probably a Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cultivar. For generic information on the Sweet Orange see Citrus sinensis ‘Chinese Oval’. I have no specific description of the ‘Chinese New Year Orange’.
Citrus sinensis ‘Chinese Oval’
Probably a Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cultivar. This is a tree with a rounded top, shiny, dark green, ovate-oblong leaves and fragrant white flowers followed by large orange edible fruits. To 10m. [RHSD, Hortus]. Citrus sinensis is believed to be a hybrid between the Pomelo, Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr., and the Tangerine, Citrus reticulata Blanco var. ‘Tangerine’. Macarthur’s ‘Chinese Oval Orange’ can be assumed to have had an oval-shaped fruit.
Citrus sinensis ‘Like St. Michael’s’
This is presumably a cultivar of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck. For further information see Citrus sinensis ‘St. Michael’s’. I have no specific information on this cultivar.
Citrus sinensis ‘Malta Blood Orange’
This is a cultivar of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck. For details of the Sweet Orange see Citrus sinensis ‘Chinese Oval’. The following description is of a blood orange still grown in Western Australia in the early 20th century. ‘Maltese Blood. The pulp is streaked and mottled with red. It has few seeds. Tree thornless and of dwarf habit, and may be planted closer than freer growing kinds; hardier than the Washington Navel, and the tree a more generous bearer. The foliage is dark and glossy. Fruit small to medium, oval, of high flavour; a good keeper and carrier.’ [Despeissis p.237/1903].
Citrus sinensis ‘Navel Orange’
A Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cultivar. For details of the Sweet Orange see Citrus sinensis ‘Chinese Oval’. The fruits of the Navel Orange are characterised by the possession of a navel-like, protuberance at the opposite end from the stem. This is in reality an underdeveloped conjoined twin. Navel Oranges are sterile and seedless.
Citrus sinensis ‘Nutmeg Orange’
Probably a Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cultivar. For details of the Sweet Orange see Citrus sinensis ‘Chinese Oval’. I have found no specific reference to a ‘Nutmeg Orange’. It is presumably a variety with a particularly spicy aroma or taste. The American Fruit Culturist mentions one such variety, the ‘Spice Tangerine’ or ‘Cleopatra’. ‘A small variety of Tangerine, the Spice or Cleopatra, is of quite inferior quality, but an enormous bearer and very showy and ornamental. Used for garnishing tables.’ [American Fruit Culturist p.645/1911].
Citrus sinensis ‘Parramatta’
Probably a Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck cultivar. For details of the Sweet Orange see Citrus sinensis ‘Chinese Oval’. Macarthur's ‘seedling from Parramatta’ could well be the orange still grown in Western Australia in 1903. ‘Parramatta. A well-known New South Wales variety of excellent quality. Tree large, very hardy and good regular bearer, thorny. Fruit of large size. Hardier than St. Michael and Navel. Several very good sub-varieties raised from seeds of this useful orange.’ [Despeissis p.237/1903].
