CAMELLIA JAPONICA ANEMONIFLORA.
A nemone Flowered, o r W a ra tá h Camellia.
Camellia Ja pónica Anemoniflora. B o t. M a g a z in e , t. 1654. Lodcl. B o t. C ab . t. 537.
Anemone Flowered, o r W a ra ttih Camellia. C u r tis ’s Mon. p i. 4.
IN Curtis’s Monograph this sort is stated to have been imported in 1812,
for the Royal Garden a t Kew, b u t we have reason to believe th a t it was
m the country several years before th a t time; in which we are confirmed
by Messrs. Loddiges, who record its introduction to Kew to have
been about the year 18 0 6 ,
I t is very distinct from any of the other Chinese varieties, and is
always readily distinguished b y its flat, and comparatively narrow,
pointed leaves, and long, slender footstalks. I t is usually among the
latest in coming into blossom, and does not produce its flowers so freely
as some of the other red flowering kinds. In growth it is moderately
strong and erect, the branches are of a dark brown colour, and sometimes
a little striped.
The leaves are from four to four and a h alf inches long, and about
two or two and a h a lf inches broad, recurved a t the points and edges,
b u t otherwise quite flat, and of a very dark shining gi-een colour, in
which th e veins are scarcely perceptible; th e serratures are small and
sharp poin ted ; the midrib is strong and prominent, particularly on the
under side of the leaves, and of a pale green colour. The footstalks are
an inch long, round and slender, somewhat curved, giving to the
leaves a pendant position.
Flower buds oval, tapering towards the point, with roundish
pointed, dark brown or chocolate-coloured scales, densely clothed with,
pubescence.
The flowers are remarkably shewy, and resemble a large double
Anemone, from which circumstance the variety has received its name.
They vary from about three to four inches in diameter, and are of a deep
red colour. The outer petals expand quite flat, and are five or six in
number, most commonly the former, surrounding a great many smaller
petals, regularly disposed, and rising u pright in the centre of the flower;