CAMELLIA JAPONICA FLORE PLENO ALBO.
Double W h ite Camellia.
Camellia Jap ó n ica flo re albo p leno. B o ta n is t’s R e p o s ito ry , t. 25.
Camellia Jap ó n ica alba p len a . L o d d ig e s ’s B o t. C ab . t. 269.
Double W h ite Camellia. C u r tis ’s M o n o g ra p h , p i. 2.
TH E Double White, or, as it has been sometimes called, th e Bourbon
Camellia” is one of th e most elegant varieties in cultivation. I t is also
one of the oldest we are acquainted with, having been first brought to
this country in 1792, by the same gentleman who has the honour of
being the introducer of th e Double-striped, represented a t folio 6, of
this work. I t differs considerably in its habit from th e other sorts, and
is always readily distinguished from them ; being rather less robust in
growth, and much paler in the colour of its leaves and branches. I t is
among the earliest in coming into blossom, and continues longer in perfection
th an almost an y other variety.
The leaves are four inches long, and rather more than two inches
broad, ovate acuminate, slightly convex, and undulated. They taper
to a long, narrow, somewhat recurved point, and are always very sharply
serrated, unless towards th e footstalk, where the serratures are generally
b lu n t and indistinct. Their colour is a vivid, shining green, similar to
th a t of the leaves of Lady Hume’s Blush variety, figured a t folio 7; and.
like them, they are strongly reticulated on the upper side, b u t differ in
tapering regularly to both ends, and in not being widest a t the point.
The midrib and footstalk are both of a pale yellowish green colour ; the
latter is comparatively short, and nearly round.
The flower buds are often produced in clusters, a t the extremity of
the shoots; before beginning to swell, they are a little pointed, and of
the same colour as the leaves, b u t when fully grown, they become
round, and change to a very delicate silvery green colour. The s
are large, round, and very pubescent, tinged with brown at the i
The flowers ai-e from three and a half, to four inches in diameter,
and are a t all times the most regularly formed of any of tlie Camellias,
the petals being disposed in a series of circles, from the circumference to