Crinum scabro-pedunculatum ‘Cleopatra’
A Crinum zeylanicum L. x Crinum pedunculatum R.Br. hybrid. Originally Crinum scabro-pedunculatum hybrid no.1 in Macarthur’s notebook, later named ‘Cleopatra’. Bulbs very large, round, but rather elongated, without column, leaves being produced close to the surface of the ground. Leaves 4-6 feet long, very broad, measuring as much as 7-8 inches at the widest [indistinct, probably] part, erect. Scapes 3-4 in November produced in succession from mid-December to February, about 30-36 inches high, stout, erect, surmounted by an umbel of 16-21 flowers, [indistinct, probably] ovary slightly pedunculated, green, tubes green, streaked with dark purple, about 4½-5 inches long, outer petals 1 inch, inner 1¼ inches broad, about 4-4½ inches long when fully expanded, reflexed and of thick substance like those of C. pedunculatum. From 8-12 expanded at once forming a complete crown or circle more than 12 inches in diameter, each flower measuring 6-7 inches across. Ground colour pure brilliant white with a well defined band down the centre of each petal, ¼ inch broad, of rich carmine. Stamens grouped together like those of C. scabrum, white below, purple above anthers, the [undeciphered] apparently imperfect and pollen yellow. Style dark crimson purple the same length as the petals and 1½ inches longer than the stamens. Fragrant. A most magnificent plant. 1841. [MP A2948 Notebook no.4, ps.1&2].
Like the other named cultivars of this cross it was probably bred by John Bidwill. See Crinum scabro-pedunculatum ‘Augusta’ for more information.
Horticultural & Botanical History
See Crinum scabro-pedunculatum no.5 for more information on these crosses.
History at Camden Park
Listed in the 1845, 1850 and 1857 catalogues as Crinum scabro-pedunculatum [B.93/1845]. This name presumably covers all the hybrids raised, some of which were named after 1845. Crinum scabro-pedunculatum varieties ‘Augusta’, ‘Cleopatra’, ‘Helen’, ‘Dido’ and ‘Thisbe’ were hand-written in a copy of the 1850 catalogue in the Camden Park collection, signed William Macarthur and dated 1850-51 [CPA]. This catalogue also contains a full price list, the five hybrids priced at 2/6 and 5/-. The catalogue numbers 94/2 – 94/6 were allotted them by Macarthur, presumably to assist with ordering. They are also listed on a hand-written page, 6a, in an 1850 catalogue in the Mitchell Library collection, this one signed Wm. Macarthur and dated 23rd Dec. 1854. [ML 635.9m]. Detailed descriptions are given in William Macarthur’s gardening notebooks [MP A2948], with additional material on ‘Augusta’ in Bidwill’s notebook [Bidwill p.7].
It seems highly likely that the bulk of the notes on the Crinum scabrum Herb. x Crinum pedunculatum R.Br. hybrids in Macarthur’s notebooks are in John Bidwill’s hand, with additional pencil notes by William Macarthur.
Notes
Published May 07, 2009 - 01:21 PM | Last updated Jul 04, 2012 - 04:48 PM
| Family | Amaryllidaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Garden origin, Camden Park |
| Synonyms | |
| Common Name | |
| Name in the Camden Park Record | Crinum scabro-pedunculatum var. Cleopatra
|
| Confidence level | high |
