Plowmania nyctaginoides (Standl.) Hunz. & Subsils

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This anomalous plant is known only from a few collections on high-elevation, volcanic peaks near the Guatemala-Mexico border.  In the original description, Standley (1940) expressed doubt as to the generic placement of this plant.  He later recognized its intermediate position between Browallia, Streptosolen, and Brunfelsia (Standley and Steyermark, 1940).

It must, however, be excluded from Brunfelsia on the basis of having a broadly lamellate stigma and plicate corolla lobes that are bright scarlet in color, resembling the corolla of Streptosolen jamesonii.  Streptosolen has a distinctly twisted corolla tube that is lacking in the present plant.  Its proper generic disposition must await a thorough evaluation of related genera of the Salpiglossideae. [It has now been placed in the monotypic genus Plowmania Hunz. (Hunziker and Subils, 1986). Eds.]  [Fieldiana – A Revision of the South American Species of Brunfelsia p.119/1998].

Introduced to Britain in 1820.  [JD].

History at Camden Park

First listed in a hand-written entry in an 1850 catalogue held at the Mitchell Library [ML 635.9m] and subsequently in the 1857 catalogue [T.180/1857].  Brunfelsia montana is listed in both the 1830 and 1836 editions of Loddiges Nursery catalogues, copies of which are held at Camden Park [CPA].

Notes