25 . 
CAMELLIA JAPONICA ATRO-RUBENS. 
Loddiges's Red Camellia. 
Camellia Japonica Atro-rubens. Loddiges’s Botanical Cabinet, t. 170. 
Transactions of the Horticultural Society, Vol. 7. 
A PLANT of this variety was imported from China, by Messrs. Lod- 
diges, in 1809. It is a vigorous growing sort, having long thick erect 
shoots, of a pale brown colour, somewhat striated. It is always among 
the latest in coming into blossom, opening about the same time as the 
Waratcih. The flowers are not very freely produced, but it is neverthe¬ 
less a handsome and desirable variety. 
The leaves are ovate, large and flat, a little recurved at the point, 
and sharply serrated. They are usually four and a half inches long, and 
two and a half inches broad, of a dark green colour, not very glossy, 
with a moderately strong midrib, and numerous prominent pale- 
coloured veins. The footstalks are nearly an inch long, slightly curved 
at the base of the leaf, and of a dull green colour. 
The flower buds are oval, somewhat pointed and pubescent; at 
first of a dark green, but change to a deep chocolate colour, like the 
buds of the Waratah. 
The flowers are generally middle-sized, and seldom exceed three 
inches in diameter. They are very striking at a distance, appearing 
scarlet. The outside petals are of a thick substance, and expand well; 
each of them is roundish oblong, about an inch broad, with the edges 
slightly notched and undulated. The whole are ranged in a double 
or triple series, and, like most of the other sorts, are faintly marked 
with dark-coloured veins. The interior of the flower is filled with small 
petals, confusedly mixed together, varying a good deal in their size and 
form, but resembling in some respects the centre petals of the Wara¬ 
tah, each being incurved, and having a very minute white tip. Some¬ 
times, from amongst them, a few larger elongated ligulate petals burst 
o 
