Reinwardtia indica Dum.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘The first notice we have of this beautiful shrub [Linum trigynum] is from Colonel Hardwicke, in his narrative of a journey to Sirinagur, above quoted, where it is said to be well known in the gardens at Cawnpore and Lucknow by the name of Gul-Ashursee, and to be a native of the highest mountains between Nataana and Adwaanee. Dr. Smith published a figure of this plant in his Exotic Botany for February 1785, and informs us that it flowered in the stove of the Right Honourable Charles Greville, at Paddington, the preceding December. It has since found its way into many collections about town. Communicated to us both by Mr. Whitley, and Mr. Salisbury, of the Botanic Garden. Mr. Donn, of the first authority in these matters, considers it as a greenhouse shrub, and says it flowers in July and August. We have seen it generally in stoves, producing its blossoms in November and December. Their natural season in the East-Indies is in March and April.

There is something in the habit of this shrub, which, besides its having only three styles, and above all its stigmas being globular would lead us to doubt if it be a real Linum; but we have had no opportunity of examining the fruit, by which the question must be decided’.  [BM t.1100/1808]. 

‘This [Linum trigynum] is a showy and useful plant for autumn and early winter, producing as it does, its large bright yellow blossoms freely for some two or three months together’.  [Gard. Chron. 1853].  ‘Long known in the stoves of this country, for we find, in Dr. Smith’s Exotic Botany for 1785, a figure of it.’  [MB p.51/1844].  LBC no.1193/1827.  ABR pl.449/1807.

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1857 catalogue only [T.639/1857].  

Notes

Linum trigynum L. (1753) = Linum gallicum L., an annual species from central Europe and the Mediterranean.