550 Description of the Species of Camellia and Thea. 



its seed by Mr. Press, the gardener to Edward Gray, Esq. 

 at Harringgay House, Hornsey. 



It was introduced in 1808, for the Hon. Charles Gre- 

 ville, who then possessed a choice and valuable collection 

 of plants at Paddington. A figure of it is published in 

 the Botanist's Repository, t. 559, made from a plant which 

 flowered in the collection of Mr. Davey, of the King's 

 Road. The figure is pretty well done, and represents the 

 stamina just converted into petals. Mr. Davey is stated to 

 have grown it from a cutting of a plant brought by some 

 gentleman from China, but" no date is given when it was 

 imported. 



16. Camellia Japonica carnea. 



Middlemist's Red Camellia. 



This variety, as stated by Messrs. Loddiges, in their Bo- 

 tanical Cabinet, was formerly cultivated under a multitude of 

 names, such as the Rose, the Pink, the Fawn-coloured, Paeony- 

 flowered, &c. but is now commonly known by the name I 

 have adopted. 



In growth, habit, and foliage, it has a great resemblance to the Semi-double 

 Red. The shoots are vigorous and erect, and when the plants attain a large 

 size they flower freely, but in a young state the flowers are sparingly produced. 

 The flower-buds are nearly round and of a dull pale green, covered with several 

 roundish slightly pubescent scales, which sometimes are tinged with brown at the 

 edges. The flowers open much about the same time as those of the Semi-double 

 Red, and are similar in colour but larger, usually measuring 3 inches or more in 

 expansion. The outer petals are roundish-cordate, and upwards of an inch in 

 diameter ; before the flower opens fully they are concave, and arranged regularly 

 in circles over one another. They are not numerous, although the flower may 

 always be said to be more than semi-double. The centre petals are short, and 

 vary in their form, generally they are roundish and a little twisted, as well as 

 marked with dark coloured veins, and all of them more or less have a small white 

 stripe down the centre. The stamina are at times perfect, but more often are 

 transformed into petals, and the whole altogether resemble a full blown Rose. 



