Crinum jagus (J.Thomps.) Dandy

Horticultural & Botanical History

The first known description is by John Thompson as Amaryllis jagus [Botany Displayed t.6/1798]. Classified as a Crinum by Andrews in 1801 as Crinum giganteum [ABR t.169/1801]. Correctly named Crinum jagus by Dandy in 1939 [ J. Bot. vol.77, p.64/1939].

Figured by Ker Gawler in the Botanical Magazine as Amaryllis ornata var. beta, the White Cape-coast lily [BM t.923/1806].  His naming of this plant was based on a misunderstanding that it was a white-flowered form of the true Cape-coast lily.

‘This fine plant has been long known in England, but much misunderstood; and no figure (though there are not a few) has yet done justice to the large and delicate texture of the flowers; among the worst of the figures is that given by Mr. Gawler, in this work, under the name of Amaryllis ornata β.  It is a native of Sierra Leone, and no doubt other parts of the coast of tropical Western Africa.  Bulbs were sent to us recently by Capt. Babington, from Sierra Leone.  The late Mr. Herbert can hardly have seen a fair or well-cultivated specimen or he would not have cavilled at the original name and changed it to C. petiolatum.’  [BM t.5205/1860].

‘The coast of Africa bordering on our settlement of Sierra Leone, has furnished us with a number of beautiful plants; but none more so, than those of the natural order of Lily; witness our present figure, which was taken from a plant in the Hammersmith collection, in the month of August 1800. The bulbs of this grand species of Crinum, were received by her ladyship, the Right Honourable the Marchioness of Rockingham, about the year 1792, from Sierra Leone; they may be considered as hardy hothouse plants, and may be kept in any part of it.’ [ABR t.169/1801]. Introduced to Britain in 1792 [JD].

History at Camden Park

It was certainly grown at Camden by 1854 as it was included in a hand-written list of plants in an 1850 catalogue now in the Mitchell Library and signed on the front ‘Wm. Macarthur, 23rd Dec. 1854’.  [ML 635.9m].  Verdoorn considers Crinum giganteum Andr. to be closely related to Crinum moorei Hook.f., forms of which grow in large numbers at Camden Park today.  We cannot rule out that these plants are descendants of Crinum petiolatum although this seems unlikely.

Notes