CAMELLIA JAPONICA, var. MINIATA. 
(Vermilion-flowered Japan Camellia,) 
Class. 
MONADELPHIA. 
Natural Order. 
TERNSTROMIACEiE, 
Order. 
POLYANDRIA. 
enbric Character. — Calyx five-parted, coriaceous, 
s minded below with many smaller scales. Petals 
f or more, large, jointed at the base, encircling a hy- 
j ynous disk. Filaments united below into a crown, 
s, ,ched to the petals. Anthers nearly ovate. Gcrmen 
i ly-seeded. Style one. Stigmas three. Capsule co- 
i eous, pulvinate, or abortively globose, three-fur- 
i ed, three-seeded. 
pecific 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 
nit of a rival, and its cultivation is now well understood, yet it is surprising 
it, for many years past, scarcely anything has been done in this country, towards 
1 3 improvement of its varieties. From the continent many kinds, from time to 
le, have been brought ; but, generally speaking, these have disappointed the 
■ pectations of purchasers, from their defectiveness : in some the petals are mis* 
apen, ragged, or deficient; in others, where the petals are well formed, the 
times of the flowers are not good ; and others, again, are not well coloured, or the 
arkings are too variable to be depended upon. An apparently very good one 
Is lately, however, been raised by M. Mathot, a nurseryman of Ghent: the 
wers are said to be nearly five inches diameter, filled up in the middle, and pretty 
gularly imbricated. The colour is fine crimson, and the foliage is reported also 
be good. This M. Mathot intends shortly to send out, under the name of C. ja - 
nica Mathiotiana. But the subject of our present plate, although a much smaller 
>wer than the one just mentioned, is, perhaps, the best which has been produced 
r many years. It was raised by Mr. Low, of Clapton, from seeds saved on a plant 
C. myrtifolia, which produced some imperfect blooms a few years ago ; and Mr. 
ow has every reason to believe that it was fertilised with the pollen of a sickly 
ady Humes Blush , which stood beside it, and produced very irregular and imperfect 
iwers. 
z 
VOL. XIV. NO. CLX1V. 
