CAMELLIA JAPONICA, var. MINIATA. 
Class. 
MONADELPHIA. 
(Veriniliou-flowered Japan Camellia,) 
Natural Order. 
TERNSTROMIACEJS. 
Order. 
POLYANDItlA. 
Generic Character.— Calyx five-parted, coriaceous, 
surrounded below with many smaller scales. Petals 
five or more, large, jointed at the base, encircling a hy- 
pogynous disk. Filaments united below into a crown, 
attached to the petals. Anthers nearly ovate. Germen 
many-seeded. Style one. Stigmas three. Capsule co- 
riaceous, pulvinate, or abortively globose, three-fur. 
rowed, three-seeded. 
Specific Character. — Plant shrubby, Leaves alter- 
nate, coriaceous, acutely serrated, acuminate. Flowers 
axillary, or terminal, sub-sessile or pedunculate, single 
or double. 
Var. Miniata. — Flowers measuring about three 
inches across, shape good, centre well filled up, bril» 
liant crimson, and surrounded by three or more rows 
of pale rose-coloured petals ; and these are again suc- 
ceeded by other rows of a darker colour, giving the 
flower the appearance of variegation. 
Although the Camellia, as a winter-flowering greenhouse plant, will scarcely 
admit of a rival, and its cultivation is now well understood, yet it is surprising 
that, for many years past, scarcely anything has been done in this country, towards 
the improvement of its varieties. From the continent many kinds, from time to 
time, have been brought ; but, generally speaking, these have disappointed the 
expectations of purchasers, from their defectiveness : in some the petals are mis- 
shapen, ragged, or deficient ; in others, where the petals are well formed, the 
outlines of the flowers are not good ; and others, again, are not well coloured, or the 
markings are too variable to be depended upon. An apparently very good one 
has lately, however, been raised by M. Mathot, a nurseryman of Ghent: the 
flowers are said to be nearly five inches diameter, filled up in the middle, and pretty 
regularly imbricated. The colour is fine crimson, and the foliage is reported also 
to be good. This M. Mathot intends shortly to send out, under the name of C. ja- 
ponica Mathiotiana. But the subject of our present plate, although a much smaller 
flower than the one just mentioned, is, perhaps, the best which has been produced 
for many years. It was raised by Mr. Low, of Clapton, from seeds saved on a plant 
of C. myrtifolia, which produced some imperfect blooms a few years ago ; and Mr. 
Low has every reason to believe that it was fertilised with the pollen of a sickly 
Lady Humes Blush, which stood beside it, and produced very irregular and imperfect 
flowers. 
VOL. XIV.— NO. CLX1V. 
