52 ESTABLISHMENT OF VARIETIES IN COLEUS 



plates (111. Hort., 8, pi. 293, and Flor. Mag., 2, pi. 96) show that this 

 species was richly and deeply colored with crimson on both surfaces 

 and that the base of the leaf-blades were not cuneate but heart-shaped. 

 Being richer in color than C. blumei, this plant attracted considerable 

 attention as a foliage plant. In 1864 (Gard. Chron., p. 506), a sport 

 of this species called marmoratus with bright green patches in its leaves, 

 was described. 



Concerning C. verschaffeltii, Herincq (1865) remarks that the expres- 

 sion of red coloration fluctuates with light conditions and suggests 

 that one might eliminate the red by keeping the plants in the shade. 

 Later he (1866) notes fluctuations that are less due to environment, 

 for he observes variation in the leaves of a single plant and states that 

 no doubt selection of cuttings would give pure-green plants. He men- 

 tions that he had seen a young plant having no trace of red coloration. 



Two types of Coleus destined to play an important part in the 

 development of horticultural varieties were introduced into England 

 from New Caledonia by John G. Veitch. Although briefly mentioned 

 in 1866, they were first described and illustrated in 1867. C. gibsonii 

 (Verlot, 1866 ; Dombrain, 1867a) was of a dwarf bushy habit. The leaves 

 were large and "of a light-green color, distinctly veined and blotched 

 with dark crimson-purple." The plate clearly shows that the leaves 

 were only slightly crenate and that the bases were broadly cordate. 

 C. veitchii (Dombrain, 18676) possessed leaves quite similar in shape, 

 but with the entire central portion of the leaf of a deep chocolate color 

 with the edges green. 



These four species, C. blumei, C. verschaffeltii, C. gibsonii, and C. 

 veitchii, were used as parents in the production of hybrids by F. Bause, 

 in the employ of the Royal Horticultural Society of London. 12 

 hybrids, of which C. verschaffeltii was the seed parent, resulted the first 

 year. Rather extended descriptions of these are given by Thomas 

 Moore (1868). The FI progeny, even from the same parentage, were 

 widely different, some resembling the seed parent, while others resem- 

 bled the pollen parent. In regard to leaf-shape, there were two groups, 

 one with flat crenate leaves, as C. veitchii, and one with frilled-dentate 

 leaves, as C. verschaffeltii. In colors there were various shades of purple 

 in solid colors, blotched areas, and in reticulations. At the time this 

 variation among the FI progeny aroused considerable interest. One 

 anonymous writer (Gard. Chron., 33, 407) raises the question how 

 several kinds of Coleus could originate from the same cross. "But 

 one hybrid with C. blumei as a parent is reported. This had frilled 

 leaves and coloration much like that of C. blumei. It was less deeply 

 colored than the hybrids resulting for the other pollen parents. 



There is no mention of yellow in any of these hybrids. All were 

 bi-colored, but with striking combinations of the green and various 

 shades and amounts of purplish or red colorations. They were sold 



