Alonsoa bicolor Hort.
Identification uncertain, but probably a variety of one of the species grown at this time. Paxton’s Dictionary lists five species, all from south America, all with scarlet flowers: acutifolia (1790), caulialata (1823), incisifolia [warscewiczii] (1795), linearis (1790), together with the hybrid intermedia. The latter was figured in Loddiges’ Botanical Cabinet in 1828, but Macarthur is likely to have used this name rather than bicolor if this is the correct identification.
Horticultural & Botanical History
‘Alonsoas. – Their beautiful spikes of scarlet flowers are very showy. The erect-growing Articifolia [sic] does well for the centre [of a formal bed], and the Incisa-grandiflora around it.’ [FC p.131/1850].
History at Camden Park
Listed in all published catalogues [H.6/1843].
Notes
A Catalogue of Plants Cultivated at the Darling Nursery, New South Wales by Thomas Shepherd in 1851 also lists ‘Alonsoa var. bicolor’ [Catalogue number 1646] but without further identification. At this time much of Shepherd’s stock came from Camden Park.
Published Feb 01, 2009 - 04:32 PM | Last updated Feb 18, 2010 - 05:03 PM
| Family | Scrophulariaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | South America |
| Synonyms | |
| Common Name | Alonsoa, Mask flower |
| Name in the Camden Park Record | Alonsoa bicolor |
| Confidence level | low |
