Gloriosa superba L. var. virescens

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘We have no doubt that this is a distinct species from Gloriosa superba, not only from the different colour and smaller size of the flowers, but because of the petals, though reflexed in the same manner, spread more, and are not undulated, except towards the point. […] The plant described as a doubtful variety of superba by Lamarck, answers very well to our present subject, and came likewise from Africa, being brought by Mr. Adanson from Senegal.’  Introduced to Britain from Mozambique by John Forbes in 1823.  [BM t.2539/1825]. 

‘The habit and foliage of this species [Methonica virescens] are quite like those of M. superba, but the leaves are smaller, mostly cirrhiferous; when destitute of cirrhi the plant is G. simplex of Linnaeus.  The flowers too have the same general structure as in M. superba, but they are larger and more showy.  The petals are broadly obovato-spathulate, soon refracted: the apices are suddenly acuminated and always retroflexed or revolute, and the upper half only has the margins undulated; the claw and the lower half are yellow, sometimes with a faint streak of green.  Stamens and pistil (with the curiously geniculated style) as in the Indian species.  [BM t.4938/1856].

History at Camden Park

The only record of Gloriosa virescens is its inclusion in hand-written addenda in a copy of an 1850 catalogue inscribed on the front ‘Wm. Macarthur, 23rd Dec. 1854’.  [ML 635.9m].  Certainly growing in the gardens at this time.

Notes