Cypella plumbea Lindl.

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1838.  [BR misc.71/1838].  ‘This very remarkable plant, though its flower is delicate and beautiful, disappoints the expectation by producing, as far as I have seen, on its strong and tall stem only one blossom, which expands before sunrise, even in a dark room, and passes away ere noon.  Some bulbs of this plant have been raised in England from Mexican seeds, and others have been received by Mr. Anderson of the Chelsea Garden, from Mr. Otto at Berlin.  The specimen here represented flowered in the autumn at Spofforth, being of the latter importation.  The pot had stood out of doors all the summer, but the flower-buds appeared so late, owing to the unusual coldness of the season, that it was removed into the stove to promote the blossom.  There was a considerable interval between the flowering of the bulbs.  It will probably be found to succeed well under a South wall in the open ground.’  [BM t.3710/1839].  FS vol.ix/1854.

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1845, 1850 and 1857 catalogues [B.424/1845].

Notes