Eccremocarpus scaber Ruiz & Pav.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This splendid plant was first raised in 1824, by Mr. Tate, of the Sloane Street nursery, from Mexican seeds communicated to him by R. P. Staples, Esq.  Our drawing was made in Mr. Tate’s Nursery in July last.  In Chili it becomes half-shrubby, and climbs all over the hedges and bushy plants in its vicinity, which it ornaments with a profusion of lovely vermillion-coloured flowers, which appear at almost all seasons of the year. […] Perhaps Eccremocarpus may most properly be considered the connecting link between Bignoniaceae and Gesnerieae.’  [BR f.939/1825].  Introduced to Britain in 1824.  [JD].  BFG iv 1. 30/1830.

History at Camden Park

The only record of this plant is a hand written note in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held at the Mitchell Library, inscribed on the front ‘Wm. Macarthur 23rd Dec. 1854.  [ML 635.9m].  Eccremocarpus scaber is marked with a ‘c’ in an 1836 edition of Loddiges’ catalogue held at Camden Park.  This indicates that it was certainly grown in the gardens by about 1843.  It was perhaps subsequently lost.

Notes