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CAMELLIA JAPONICA ATRO-RUBENS.
L oddige s's R e d Camellia.
Camellia Ja pónica Atro -ru b en s. L o d d ig e s ’s B o ta n ic a l C ab in e t, t. 170.
T ra n s a c tio n s o f th e H o r tic u ltu r a l S o c ie ty , Vol. 7.
A PLANT of this variety was imported from China, by Messrs. Loddiges,
in 1809- I t is a vigorous growing sort, having long thick erect
shoots, of a pale brown colour, somewhat striated. I t is always among
the latest iu coming into blossom, opening about the same time as the
Waratáh. The flowers are not very freely produced, b u t it is nevertheless
a handsome and desirable variety.
The leaves are ovate, large and flat, a little recurved a t 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 p ubescent; at
first of a dark green, b u t change to a deep chocolate colour, like the
buds of th e Wai'atáh,
The flowers are generally middle-sized, and seldom exceed three
inches in diameter. They are very striking a t 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-
táh, each being incurved, and having a very minute white tip. Sometimes,
from amongst them, a few larger elongated ligulate petals burst