Lachenalia species blue

Horticultural & Botanical History

No data.

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1845, 1850 and 1857 catalogues [B.294/1845].

Notes

Lachenalia orchioides (L.) Ait.  A bulbous perennial with strap-shaped leaves, sometimes spotted green, and dense spikes of semi-erect, lightly fragrant, blue- or purple-shaded flowers in late winter or spring. The variety glaucina is less strongly scented than the species. To 40cm.  ‘A very handsome species of Lachenalia [L. glaucina], for the possession of which the Glasgow Botanic Garden is indebted to Baron Ludwig, of the Cape of Good Hope.  There are two varieties, of which the principal figure here given represents the original species of Jacquin, with spotless leaves and scape, and which, with us, has the palest and bluest flowers (always changing, however, to lilac as they fade): while the other has its leaves and scape spotted, and the flowers are, even in their youngest state, more inclined to lilac or rose colour.  Of the latter kind a single flower is given at fig. 5.  Its flowering season in this country is August.’  [BM t.3552/1837]. [CECB].  Introduced to Britain in 1752.  [JD].

Lachenalia purpureo-caeruleo Jacq.  Flowers bell shaped, white and purplish-blue with brown markings and sweetly scented.  [CECB].  It was first flowered in Britain by Williams, nurseryman of Turnham Green and figured in the Botanical Repository.  [ABR pl.251/1802].  Jacq. IPR pl.388/1781-93.  This plant is illustrated.

Lachenalia viridiflora W.F.Barker, very rare in the wild, has turquoise flowers.  I am unsure of its date of introduction to Europe or Australia.