Metternichia princeps Miers

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘A Brazilian genus, named in compliment to the distinguished Austrian Prince Metternich-Winneburg, of Ochsenhausen, etc.  Its author and discoverer, Mikan, describes the flowers as inodorous, whereas with us they are powerfully and deliciously fragrant, the greatest charm perhaps the plant possesses; for though the flowers are large, they are not showy, not more so than Portlandia, or other white corollas whose tubes have a tinge of green.  Mikan referred the genus to Convolvulaceae, Meisner to Bignoniaceae, Lindley and Miers (with more propriety) to Solanaceae, and the latter to a separate group, which he calls “Metternichiae,” along with Sessea and Cestrum.  There is probably but one species.  Dunal takes up, indeed, M. aminis of Presl, but as something more than doubtful; and he has a “Metternichia ? megalandra,” -querying the genus,- a Colombian plant of Moritz (n. 827).  M. Principis flowers with us, in the stove, in August.’  [BM t.4747/1853].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.681/1850].

Notes