C AM E L L IA JA PO N IC A A ITONL
M r . A lto n ’s Camellia.
Camellia Ja p o n ica A ito n ia . C h a n d le r ’s C am e llia B r ita n n ic a , p i. 3. L o u d o n ’s
H o r tu s B r ita n n ic u s , p . 293. N o . 36.
FROM th e Work we have ju s t referred to, we learii th a t this Camellia,
and four others, were raised a t th e Vauxhall Nursery, from seeds contained
in a capsule of the Pompone, sown in November, 1819 ; and th a t
it was named in compliment to William Townsend Aiton, Esq. of the
Royal Gardens, Kew. I t is, unquestionably, a very strik in g variety,
and a most valuable one to the Camellia grower, on account of its producing
seed more freely than an y other k in d whatever. In hab it and
general character it seems to resemble the Pompone ; b u t the branches
are upon the whole more vigorous, and the leaves flatter and more
pointed.
The flower buds are very large before expansion, and of a deep
silvery g-reen colour. They are a t first a good deal pointed, b u t gradually
become blunt, and almost round.
The flower consists of only five or six large roundish, or roundish-
cordate petals, each averaging from an inch and a h alf to two inches in
diameter. They are faintly veined, and of a b right rose colour, measuring
between three and four inches across, when fully expanded.
Like the other Single Camellias, they are a t first bell-shaped, the petals
being closely imbricated a t th e base, and surrounding the cup or
column of stamina, which rises conspicuously in the centre ; by degrees
they spread open, u n til a t last they become almost flat. The filaments
are moderately strong, and of a delicate yellow colour. The anthers
arc remarkably large, and o f a deep yellow.