Cornus capitata Wall.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘For the excellent drawing and following account of this very rare plant we are obliged to Mr. Booth, Gardener to Sir C. Lemon, Bart., M.P., of Carclew, in Cornwall, in whose rich collection it flowered, and fruited last year for the first time in Europe.  “This valuable addition to our collection of hardy shrubs was raised in 1825, in the Garden of John Hearle Tremayne, Esq., at Heligan, Cornwall, from seeds received from his relation Sir Anthony Buller, during his residence in the East Indies.  It is a very handsome evergreen, flowering in great profusion during summer, and producing an abundance of large, globular, reddish fruit in autumn.”

“Obs. [by Dr. Wallich.] This beautiful tree is very distinct from all the other species.  It approaches a little to C[ornus] florida and canadensis; but is easily recognised by its copious, harsh, adpressed hairs, its stature, which is that of a large shrub or small tree, and the position of its leaves.”  We do not understand upon what principle this very distinct genus has been combined with Cornus, from which it differs essentially both in flower and fruit.  Whether or not C. Florida, which agrees with it in habit, is also a species of Benthamia, our materials do not enable us to determine.’  [BR f.1579/1833]. 

‘A hardy shrub, no doubt, as Dr. Lindley designates this handsome plant; but it is only in the milder regions of the south-west of England and Ireland that we are privileged to see it flowering copiously and bearing its beautiful-looking fruit in the open air. The fruiting specimen here figured was sent from the Belfast Botanic Garden, in December, 1849, by our friend Mr. Ferguson. We have received equally fine ones from Mrs. Buck, of Moreton, North Devon; and we know that at Heligan, in Cornwall, and at Sir Charles Lemon’s, Carcleugh, the large and highly-coloured fruit is abundantly produced. Dr. Wallich, who discovered it on Chandaghiry, in Nepal, speaks of the tree as of the size of an apple-tree, and covered with yellow heads of scentless blossoms in June.’ [BM t.4641/1852].

History at Camden Park

Benthamia fragifera was included in a consignment of plants sent from Kew by John Bidwill in November 1843 [AJCP].  It seems probable that this consignment was sent to Camden but there is no record of this plant being grown in the gardens.

Notes