Sinningia x Cartoni Hort.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘The account Mr Glendinning has given of [its] origin is as follows:- “These beautiful varieties were raised from Gloxinia speciosa ‘Rubra’ [see Sinningia speciosa (Lodd.) Hiern var. rubra] fertilized with the pollen of Sinningia guttata [S. guttata Lindl.].  The flowers, however, give little evidence of the male parent, although the branching habit which distinguishes Nos. 1, 2 and 4 [magnifica, insignis and Cartoni], are proofs of their alliance to Sinningia, particularly that of magniflora, which has very hairy leaves and stems, and an erect growth.  They were first raised in the garden of the Duke of Northumberland at Syon, by Mr. Carton, who has been long celebrated for producing various interesting novelties by hybridizing.  The plants which furnished the figures were exhibited by me before the Horticultural Society in Regent Street, in June last, when they were awarded a Banksian medal.  The same individuals have continued to bloom ever since very profusely, and are now, August 14th, still in flower.  On that account, as well as their great beauty, they are likely to prove permanent objects of interest in our gardens” ’  [BR f.48/1844].  The fourth variety figured was bicolor.  Gloxinia Cartoni was also figured in Paxton's Magazine of Botany.  [MB p.199/1844].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [B.182/1850].  Gloxinia Cartoni was requested of James Backhouse on 1st February, 1849 and this is the likely source.

Notes

I have treated this plant as a hybrid, rather than a cultivar of Sinningia speciosa as with most other Gloxinias, on the basis of the evidence of its origin given by Glendinning. However, it seems more likely to be a cultivar of Sinningia speciosa. See also Siningia x insignis Hort. and Sinningia speciosa ‘Erecta Magnifica’.