Bulbous and Tuberous Rooted Plants
A division of the Camden Park catalogues that is not clearly defined. Some of the more important families of the Hortus are included here, Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae and Liliaceae. It also contains a wide assortment of other plants with a modified stem or root that acts as a storage organ. Such plants are usually deciduous and have a distinct dormancy period. Shrubs and trees are not included, but there is some overlap with herbaceous plants.
Dahlia ‘Ringleader’
‘Ringleader’, from Messrs. Holmes and Kemp was considered to be a promising new variety. It is a deep ruby-rose ‘of the finest symmetry’ and was awarded a First Class Certificate at the National Floricultural Society show. [Gard. Chron. 1853].
Dahlia ‘Robert Bruce’
Among the prize takers at the great exhibition of dahlias held in Edinburgh, was ‘Robert Bruce’. [Gard. Chron. 1855]. It was also a prize winner at the Grand National Dahlia Show, Sept. 23 and 24, 1858. [Gard. Chron. 1858]. I have found no description.
Dahlia ‘Rosea Elegans’
Among the prize takers at the great exhibition of dahlias held in Edinburgh in 1855, was ‘Rosea Elegans’. [Gard. Chron. 1855]. I have found no detailed description.
Dahlia ‘Sir F. Bathurst’
Keynes’ ‘Sir F. Bathurst’. ‘Crimson, fine petal, very symmetrical in arrangement and true outline, of great depth, but rather flat in centre.’ It was awarded a First class certificate in 1849. [FC p.4/1850]. ‘Seedlings were numerous but there was nothing amongst them very striking [except] ‘Sir F. Bathurst’, a crimson of fine form, and apparently constant’. [Gard. Chron. 1849]. It was considered to be one of the best dahlias sent out in the years 1848-50, particularly admirable because it ‘throws [its] blooms well up above the foliage and is of good habit.’ In 1853 it was among ‘dahlias expected to be extensively cultivated this year’. [Gard. Chron. 1853]. It was also among the prize takers at the great exhibition of dahlias held in Edinburgh in 1855, and again at the Grand National Dahlia Show, September, 1858. [Gard. Chron. 1855 and 1858].
Dahlia ‘Triomphe de Roubain’
Probably ‘Triomphe de Roubaix’. Classified as a Fancy Dahlia – tipped, it was among the prize takers at the great exhibition of dahlias held in Edinburgh [Gard. Chron. 1855] and was also a prize winner at the Grand National Dahlia Show, Sept. 23 and 24, 1858. [Gard. Chron. 1858]. I have found no detailed description.
Dahlia ‘Zebra’
At least two striped dahlias appear to have been sold under the name ‘Zebra’. Charles Turner of the Royal Nursery, Windsor, advertised Yale’s ‘Zebra’ for sale in The Gardeners Chronicle, describing it as a fancy variety, maroon striped with orange. [Gard. Chron. 1847]. The Floricultural Cabinet provided a list of new dahlias offered to the public in 1853 and described ‘Zebra’ as ‘light, with brown stripes; well up and good outline.’ [FC p.37/1853]. This later cultivar is likely to be the catalogue plant. Among prize getters listed in The Gardeners Chronicle was Keynes’ ‘Zebra’, a fancy variety. [Gard. Chron. 1853]. It was still being offered for sale by Keynes’ Nursery in 1860. [Gard. Chron. 1860].
Dahlia Dodd’s ‘Mary’
‘This beautiful variety was raised by Mr. Dodds, gardener to Sir George Warrender, and is generally considered by all who have seen flowers of it, to be unrivalled in its class; wherever we have seen it exhibited, either in the country or metropolitan shows, its superbity was so evident, that the most inexperienced in a knowledge of the properties of a first rate flower were struck with its beauty, which those persons capable of ascertaining its merits, without a single exception that we have seen or heard of, state that it is, in its class, superior to any other exhibited this year.’ [FC p.264/1836]. [FC p.122/1836]. The flower is fully double, almost globular, white, with a very pale pink blotch at the edge of the petals and would be classified as a Show Dahlia today.
Dahlia Keyne’s ‘Nancy’
John Keynes, Nurseryman, Salisbury, offered the dahlia ‘Nancy’ (Keynes) in the pages of The Gardeners Chronicle in 1852, describing it as ‘fancy, scarlet and white.’ [Gard. Chron. 1852]. Keynes’ ‘Nancy’ received a certificate at the Shacklewell Dahlia Show of September 9, 1851. [Gard. Chron. 1851].
Dahlia pinnata Cav.
Frost-tender to half-hardy tuberous-rooted herbaceous plant, bushy, in a wide range of sizes, colours and flower form. Summer flowering. [RHSE, Hortus].
Dichorisandra thyrsiflora Mikan
Frost tender, erect perennial with short, rhizomatous roots, spirally arranged, lance-shaped leaves, and dense racemes, to 20cm long, of deep violet flowers, to 2cm across, in autumn. To 2.5m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Dierama pendulum (L.f.) Bak.
Frost-hardy, clump-forming cormous perennial with linear leaves, often dry and fibrous when flowering, and clustered spikes of nodding, wide, open bell-shaped, purple-pink flowers in summer. To 2m. [RHSE, Hortus, CECB].
Dietes iridioides (L.) Sweet ex Klatt
Very hardy, evergreen, rhizomatous, iris-like plant with a fan of basal leaves and white flowers, with yellow marks, in spring and summer. Individual flowers last only one day but continue in succession for many weeks. To 60cm. [RHSE, Hortus, CECB].
Dioscorea alata L.
Probably a species of Yam, such as Dioscorea alata, with edible roots. Dioscorea alata is a tuberous perennial, the tubers sometimes very large, weighing up to 40kg and 2 m or more in length. Widely grown as a food source in the Pacific Islands. [RHSD, Hortus].
Dioscorea elephantipes (L’Hérit.) Engl.
Frost-tender, slow-growing, deciduous, climbing perennial with a partially buried, pyramidal, heavily fissured woody tuber, blue-green, heart-shaped leaves and dark-spotted, greenish-yellow flowers in summer. [RHSE, Hortus].
