Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Sinningia speciosa ‘Candida’

A cultivar of Sinningia speciosa (Lodd.) Hiern. I have found no description but the name candida suggests a pure white flower and its introduction by 1832, preceding the introduction of the Fyfiana cultivars, means it would have been of the wild, slipper form.  Probably similar to the pure white slipper flower illustrated by Fitch in the Floral Magazine of 1861, shown here.

Horticultural & Botanical History

Not listed under this name in the main Gesneriad Register – Sinningia.  ‘Candida’, 1837, is listed in the Appendix with no details.  It is probably an old variety, pre-dating 1837.  The only reference I have found is a report in The Athenaeum of 1832, page 161: ‘In the exhibition , we observed , flowers of Gloxinia candida, and of Echeveria…’

History at Camden Park

Recorded in a handwritten entry in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held at the Mitchell Library and inscribed on the front Wm. Macarthur, 23rd Dec. 1854.  [ML635.9m].  Gloxinia candida was requested of James Backhouse on 1st February, 1849 and this is the likely source [MP A2933-1 p.183].

Notes

Published Sep 02, 2009 - 05:16 PM | Last updated Aug 21, 2011 - 05:09 PM

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Four gloxinias are figured, a white slipper form and three pink or pink and white. Floral Magazine, 1861.

Fitch (Floral Magazine), 1861.  Early Florist's gloxinias.  The white slipper form is probably very similar to the variety candida.

 

Family Gesneriaceae
Category
Region of origin

Probably garden origin
Synonyms
  • Gloxinia candida Hort.

 
Common Name

Gloxinia, Slipper gloxinia
Name in the Camden Park Record

Gloxinia candida 
Confidence level medium