Amicia zygomeris DC.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘The first discovered species (by Humboldt) is a native of New Grenada; the second, and only other yet known, (the one here figured,) is a native of Mexico, was first taken up by De Candolle, and afterwards more fully described in the ” Linnaea,” from specimens gathered by Scheide in woods at Jalacingo; and I possess fine native specimens collected by M. Galeotti, upon the Cordillera of Mexico, near the Pacific, growing in woods and by river-sides, at an elevation of from 5,500 to 8,000 feet above the level of the sea.  It is No. 3180 of M. Galeotti’s, Mexican Collections.  Schlechtendal calls it, and deservedly,“planta pulcherrima;” its flowers are large, copious, and the foliage extremely delicate.  It was introduced to this country from Paris by Messrs. Rollinson’s of the Tooting Nursery, and by them kindly given to the Royal Gardens of Kew, where it blossomed copiously during the early winter months.  This blossoming was probably hastened by its growth being checked from cuttings being taken from the plant.’  [BM t.4008/1843]. 

Introduced to Britain in 1826.  [JD].  MB p.173/1846.

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [T.49/1857] although it was first introduced to Australia much earlier as part of a consignment sent out from Kew by John Bidwill in November 1843 [AJCP].  It seems likely that these plants came to Camden Park.

Notes