Royena villosa L.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘In Moreton Bay, Queensland, the singular discovery has been made of the occurrence of the south-east African climbing shrub Royena villosa, L., growing apparently spontaneous by the Brisbane river, near the city of Brisbane.  I am indebted to Baron von Mueller for a specimen, which was gathered by Mr. Walter Hill.  Having regard to the great distance and wide divergence between the floras of Australia and the Cape of Good Hope, and to the fact that many species of foreign trees and shrubs have been imported into Australia, it must be suspected that this is not an outlying station of the true geographical range of the plant, but rather due to introduction.  The flowers have a sweet fragrance and the plant is not unlikely to be cultivated.’  [Journal of Botany British and Foreign p.353/1875].  Figured in Natal Plants [Wood – Natal Plants vol.3, pl.20/1902] and in Meerburgh’s Plantarum Selectarum Icones Pictae [Meerburgh Afb. pl.XXXXIII/1775].

I have no additional data on its introduction to gardens.  

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [T.911/1857].

Notes