Eucalypts at Monserrate

From files:

Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.
Catalogus Plantarum Horti Camalduensis (ed. 2) 6, 20. 1832.
2008 referred to as a synonym for Eucalyptus viminalis

Corymbia gummifera (Gaertn.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S. Johnson
Telopea 6: 233 (1995).
Syn. Eucalyptus corymbosa Sm., Spec. Bot. New Holland 4: 43 (1795).
1867: Eucalyptus corymbosa, de 60 à 70 pieds de haut; Eucalyptus globulus à peu près de la même hauteur;

Eucalyptus falcata Turcz.,
Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 20(1): 163 (1847).
1885: Foot of the lawn: magnificent Eucalyptus falcate
Silver mallee - A mallee to 5 m tall
Eucalyptus fasciata (name not found)
1885: The Eucalypti grow like willows in these gardens. The stem of E. fasciata measured 3 feet in circumference 5 feet from the ground. Two others, of which I could not ascertain the species, were respectively about 50 and 80 feet high ; the stem of the former measured 4 feet round. They flower and fruit abundantly, and are thus spoken of by the poet botanist (1870) :--

“ Across our little river springeth steep
Yon mossy lower lawn ; -- great wealth of trees,
And shrubs coniferous, deck its lengthening sweep,
And two great giant gum-trees load the breeze
With their full-blossomed fragrance.” . . .


Corymbia ficifolia (F.Muell.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson,
Telopea 6: 245 (1995).
Syn. Eucalyptus ficifolia F. Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 2: 85. Growing below offices 1988
Eucalyptus globulus Labill.
Relation du Voyage à la Recherche de la Pérouse 1: 153, pl. 13. 1799.
1923: "Chapel lawn: On the near slope stands a fine Eucalyptus globulus -the first to be planted at Monserrate, 1923. There are, too, some very large Eucalyptus -- one is stated to be the first of its kind planted in Portugal -- and two particularly fine specimens of E. Globulus with boles of 50 ft. in girth near the ground, and rising 60 ft. to the lowest branches, with straight and perfect trunks. Their full height is 135 ft. 1929.
A young tree is growing in Rose Garden, 2009

Eucalyptus viminalis Labill.
Nov. Holl. Pl. 2: 12 (1806).
1885: Pinus canariensis is of a finer texture, and stands near a giant Eucalyptus viminalis,
Also listed for 1923, tree still stands 2009.

Eucalyptus sp. L'Hér.
Sertum Anglicum 18. 1789.
1890: Mexico: The hillside above is covered with cedars, Eucalypti, and cork-trees,
Also listed in 1867, 1870, 1885, 1890

Wisteria floribunda

Old Rose at Monserrate

There are several bushes of this rose. All rather small and growing in shade. Possibly a hybrid perpetual ... ? Not as purple as appears in the photograph - but I could not convince my camara to capture the red colour accurately.

Dryandra argentea

Dryandra nobilis Curtis's Botanical Magazine nº 4633, 1852

Monserrate 1885 describes "Dryandra argentea" as growing in Dr. Cargill's Bed. This is proving difficult to track down.

One possibility would be Banksia argentea (R.Br.) Kuntze which is an incorrect name for the plant now classified as Pimelea argentea R. Br. but there are no references to this combination linked with Dryandra. Seems unlikely.

All Dryandras are confined to South West Australia. Modern classification places them within the genus Banksia. There is a long history of cultivation, firstly introduced in the early years of the 19th century.

Dryandra formosa Curtis's Botanical Magazine nº 4102

1923 – Short Guide to the Gardens

Summary of directions guiding the visitor around Monserrate from Walter Oates, 1923

“the garden being very steep in places the easiest way of seeing it is here indicated”

ENTRANCE GATES

Turn sharp left and follow the narrow flagged path downwards

ARCHWAY OF HUGE GRANITE BOULDERS

Cascade

THE PATH CROSSES THE EDGE OF THE POOL
By means of stepping stones

Fine view of the fern covered ravine … to the Palacio beyond

THE PATH DESCENDS IN ZIG-ZAGS

Till it reaches a level path, shaded by plane trees

HERE TURN LEFT

Leads to the ruins of the ancient chapel
In a rough niche stands an Etruscan sarcophagus
From the terrace a good view of part of the lawn on the opposite slope

FROM THE CHAPEL, CONTINUING THE SAME LEVEL PATH
Partial view of the lake

FARTHER ALONG THE SAME PATH
To the left are natural woods
A fine view of the Palacio can be obtained

FARTHER ON A SMALL CORK-COVERED SEAT
From this point the path descends by easy flagged steps
Past a small wood of Camellias to a little old tank

ANOTHER BEND IN THE PATH
Leads down to the torrent in the ravine
Here, between a laurel bush and a giant Camellia
another ancient sarcophagus

AT THIS POINT THE RAVINE NARROWS RAPIDLY
From here on the slope above is known as Mexico
To the left rhododendrons … palms … cycads and cacti
Paths lead through and around this part; but it is more interesting to look down on it from the path above

TO THE RIGHT OF THE TANK IS A SMALL CURVING PATH
Leading to the lower edge of the lawn
Where stands a very fine specimen of Araucaria bidwillii

RETURN TO THE PATH BY THE TANK AND FOLLOW IT TO THE RIGHT
On the steep slope up to the right are … Nolina …. Phoenix

AT THE FORKED PATH TAKE THE ONE BEARING TO THE RIGHT
From here one has a view of the opposite hillside
Best comprehensive view of … the ravine below

HENCE THE PATH WINDS GENTLY UPWARDS THROUGH A WOOD OF GNARLED OLD CORK TREES
Allowing glimpses over gardens and mountains
LEADING OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LOW RIDGE FACING W. and N.
Enormous pines … with groups of camellias and rhododendrons beneath

ON THE RIGHT A LARGE GROUP OF AGAPANTHUS, FARTHER ALONG A LARGE OAK
And a glimpse of the lawn

A LITTLE FURTHER ALONG ON THE LEFT A HUGE METROSIDERUS
And the rose garden
Extensive view across the Rose garden … to the blue Atlantic

TO THE RIGHT THE LAWN SLOPES UP TO THE PALACIO
From this point is obtained a fine view of the old Quinta de Piedade

CORK TREE
View of the Rose garden
Lawn on the right
Next to the path a cork seat
On the left primitive woods

ON TO A GROUP OF LARGE EVERGREEN OAKS
With a semicircular seat in their shade
Fine views of the countryside
Partial view of the Palacio

FROM THIS POINT THE PATH CONTINUES ALONG THE SAME LEVEL
Joins the main path again at another point

TAKE THE ZIG-ZAG PATH UP ACROSS THE LAWN TO BELOW THE TERRACE OF THE PALACIO
Path to the left is strictly private as is also the terrace above

TAKE THE PATH TO THE RIGHT ALONG THE TOP OF THE LAWN
On the left the south façade of the Palacio
Fine specimen of Macrozamia Macleayi

HERE THE PATH DESCENDS
From the shade of a Phoenix canariensis a good view of the old chapel

THE PATH IS NOW LEVEL AGAIN AND RUNS STRAIGHT FOR SOME DISTANCE
fine collection of plants Salisburia (GINKGO) Sabal umbraculifera Grevillea robusta
statue of a sleeping cupid
a fine glimpse through magnificent Kauri Pines and Magnolia trees gives on to the lower lawn and the lakes up to the rock-strewn Serra
farther along the path an Irish Yew

THE PATH NOW BENDS TO THE LEFT, PAST THE CORNER OF THE BIG TANK
here the path joins another at right angles
to the right it leads back to the old chapel

WE TURN LEFT … PASSING THROUGH THE ARCHWAY … TURN LEFT. THROUGH AN OLD INDIAN GATEWAY OF CARVED RED SANDSTONE
is reached a small terrace with red brick pergolas covered with Wisteria
the view of the lowers gardens already described, only even more beautiful
on the other side one looks down on to the old nursery
there are paths leading through this part
here the easier path from the seat under the evergreen oaks joins the main path again
beyond this point, towards the Palacio the drive is kept private, for access to the residence only.

FROM THE TERRACE THE DRIVE TURNS SLIGHTLY UPHILL TURNING TO THE LEFT THROUGH THE STABLE YARD
Good general collection of plants

THE PATH TO THE GATE, HOWEVER, FOLLOWS THE ROUGH FLAGGED, EASY STAIRWAY,
under some very large Cork Oaks.
This is the easiest way out.

NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE PATH ANOTHER LEVEL PATH BEARS OFF TO THE RIGHT
Leading to the waterfalls in the ravine
It also leads back to the entrance gate, being the shorter way but very steep

BETTER TO TURN BACK AND TAKE THE FLAGGED PATH ONCE MORE
By which one arrives at the drive, opposite the lawn at the main gateway.

TWO HOURS IS A CONVENIENT TIME IN WHICH TO VISIT THE GARDEN COMFORTABLY

Dahlia imperialis

Dahlia maximiliana hort. ex Hook. f.
Botanical Magazine t. 7655. vol. 125, 1899.

The earliest notice which I find of this plant is that specimens of it were exhibited at a show of the Royal Horticultural Society in February, 1879, by Mr. Green, gardener to Sir George Macleay, K.C.M.G., of Pendel Court, Bletchingly. There are excellent specimens, communicated by Sir George, preserved in the herbarium at Kew. As stated in the Gardeners's Chronicle of that daye, it attains eight feet in height, four feet in diameter, and blooms for a long time. This was followed by Mr. Hemsley's notice of the plant as D. Maximiliana, Hort., in October of the same year, in his account of the known species of Dahlia, with the observations that the stem, seven feet high, is lenticillate, the leaves bipinnate, with relatively slender petioles, and the flowers unknown. In December of the following year I received some flowers of it as D. Maximiliana?, from E. H. Woodall, Esq., of St. Nicholas House, Scarborough, with the information that the plant producing them was eight feet high, had excited great admiration, from the delicate mauve colour of its anemone-like flowers and that as it [May 1st, 1899] succeeds the chrysanthemum, it should prove a valuable addition to winter-flowering conservatory plants. Up to the present time there has been no description of the species but that I here give. Of the origin or introduction of the species I have found no record. It is regarded as Mexican, probably correctly, as that country is the headquaters of the genus.

As a species it is difficult to assign to D. Maximiliana botanical characters that would by words form distinguish it from some forms of the common D. variabilis, Desf., than which it is a very much larger plant, with a more branching fistular? stem ; the foliage more resembles that of D. imperialis, and, except, in the lovely colour, resemble those of D. variabilis.

The specimen from which the accompanying figure was made was kindly sent in February of this year (along with other interesting plants to be figured in this work) by Commendatore Hanbury, F.L.S., from his unrivalled garden at Palazzo Orengo, La Mortola, Ventimiglia.

Previous post concerning Dahlia imperialis

Dahlia imperialis Roezl ex Ortgies
syn. Dahlia maximiliana hort. ex Hook. f.

Dahlia maximiliana hort. ex Hook. f.

Bot. Mag. 125: t. 7655. 1899

Gard. Chron. ser. 2, 11:216, 12:525. 1879, nom. nud.

= Dahlia imperialis Roezl ex Ortgies

= Dahlia maxonii Saff.

Cyathea smithii

Hooker, J.D. (1844-1860)
The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of
H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror.

Cyathea smithii Hook.f.
Fl. New Zealand 2. 8 t. 72. 1854. 1854

First recorded at Monserrate 1870

Synonyms:
Hemitelia smithii (J. D. Hooker) W. J. Hooker, 1865
Hemitelia stellulata Col., 1886
Alsophila smithii (J. D. Hooker) Tryon , 1970 (non Alsophila smithii Trevis., 1851; quae Alsophila glauca?)