'1'IIK tLLUSTRATlOH i 



PL. CLXVIII. 



CAMELLIA PIETRO BOUTOURLIN. 



NAT. 



ter: 



memory of Father 



ETYMOLOGY : Dedicated to 

 introducers of Camellia Japonica, in 1739. 



GENERIC CHARACTER: ( l ) Sepala 5-6 inaeqnalia, afael 

 valde imbricata. Stamina indefinita, exteriors ptoriaeriata, brov 

 teriora 5-12 libera; antherae versatile*. Ovarium 8-6 locolan* I 

 pendula. Capsula lignosa, saepius brevis et acutiuscula . loeulititb 

 albumen nullum; embryo rectus, cotyl<Ml<>nil>iis ira^N. ra.liniL-i 

 vel membranacea, serrata. Flores axill 

 in Asia tropka*c<l oriciiluli, eel hi nn/i/jx inn,, Jt/diro <,■'•.,,„>, 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER: C. Japonica, arbor, a. muis ,„, 

 natis,subtus subaveniis, floribus inodoris, petalis (rubris, albis, 

 lii!il-riali>) stauiniilnis . manis , >1 \ lis connatis capsulisque glabris 



The description of the species is limited to its differential 

 those of C. Ifongkongensis, 

 Seem., etc. 



Speaking of the distribution of C. Japonica, Seemann 

 says that it is not known in a wild state in China, 

 though it has been cultivated from time immemorial by 

 the Chinese. On the other hand , it is common throughout 

 Japan. The C. Hongkongensis of Seemann is very near C. 

 Japonica, differing mainly in having free styles and a woolly 

 ovary. Besides the two species mentioned, the genus, as 

 limited by Seemann and others, would comprise only four 

 others , one of which is little known, C. reticulata , Lindley, 

 including C. spectabilis, Champion, is distinguished by its 

 pubescent young shoots and the distinct reticulation of the 

 venation of the under surface, especially, of the leaves. The 

 form originally named by Lindley, and figured in the Bo- 

 tanical Register, t. 1078, has semi-double, red flowers, with 

 large wavy petals, resembling a Pceony rather than the 

 compact flowers of the varieties of C. Japonica. The plant 

 named C. spectabilis has single white flowers in the normal 

 state. Both C. sasanqua and C. drupifera are smaller-flow- 

 ered, and of more rambling habit. The latter has fragrant 

 flowers. 



There are many handsome varieties of these species 

 cultivated by the Chinese, but few of them are found, and 

 those very rarely, in European gardens. Many of the varieties 

 figured and referred to C. sasanqua, belong to Thea malt- 

 flora, Seem, which includes Camellia maliflora, Lindley and 

 C. rosae flora, Hooker. Since the publication of Seemann's 

 synopsis of the genera further material has been accumu- 

 lated in gardens and herbaria ; and we intend returning to 

 a more detailed consideration of the species shortly. 

 W. B. H. 



