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.

Angophora floribunda

Curtis's Botanical Magazine Nº 5480 Vol. XC (1864)

Angophora floribunda ( Sm. ) Sweet

Sweet's Hortus Britannicus 1830

Myrtaceae

Metrosideros floribunda Sm.
Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, Botany 3 1797
Type Information
"Port Jackson, N.S.W." [Given by G.J.Leach, Telopea 2 (1986) 769 as "Port Jackson, N.S.W., White s.n., 1795. (LINN, Herb. Smith No. 877.7, photo!)."]. nom. illeg. non Metrosideros floribunda Vent. Base name for Acmena floribunda (Smith) DC.; Angophora floribunda (Smith) Sweet. The type collection was more than likely collected in 1794 not 1795 (White left the colony in 1794) - the latter date probably being the date of receival by Smith. (IPNI)

Curtis's Botanical Magazine Nº 5480

Acmena floribunda; foliis pellucido-punctatis ovali-lanceolatis utrinque acumi-
natis.

Acmena floribunda. De Cand. Prodr. v. 3. p. 262.
Metrosideros floribunda. Sm. Trans. Linn. Soc. v. 3. p. 267. Vent. Malmais, t. 75.
Angophora floribunda, G. Don.
ß. elliptica ; foliis elliptica acuminatis, bacca alba. De Cand. l. c.
Eugenia elliptica. Sm. I.e. p. 281. Sims, Bot. Mag. t. 1872.
Eugenia Smithii. Pair.
Myrtus Smithii. Spreng. Syst. Feget, v. 2. p. 484.

However beautiful and striking this plant (native of New South Wales) may be, loaded, too, as our tree, above twenty feet high, is, with its charming clusters of bright purple berries, its flowers are quite unattractive, and perhaps amongst the smallest and inconspicuous of all the Myrtle tribe. These flowers appear, like those of many other Australian trees and shrubs, in the winter season, and the berries succeed them in the early spring, causing the extremities of the slender branches to bend down by their weight. The tree is too large, however, for successful cultivation in an ordinary greenhouse, but well suited to our winter garden. De Candolle, I think with justice, refers Sir James Smith's Eugenia elliptica to this species, considering it a variety with white berries and broader foliage, depending on the paler or almost white colour of the berries. This Eugenia elliptica is figured by Sims in the ' Botanical Magazine l. c. ; but the figure does not do justice to the species, and is destitute of flowers, while, on the other hand, the fruit was unknown to Ventenat, who has well represented a flowering specimen.

Descr. A tree in our conservatory, attaining a height of twenty feet, and very much resembling a gigantic large-leaved Myrtle (Myrtus communis). Leaves very dark-green, two to three inches long, ovato-lanceolate, acuminate, pellucido-punctate, short-petioled. Panicles terminal, thyrsoid. Flowers very small. Calyx turbinate or subsemiglobose, with five very indistinct teeth. Petals quite minute, elliptical-cuneate, erect, much shorter than the numerous stamens. Ovary incorporated with the fleshy base of the calyx, which eventually becomes a globose, rich-purple subpellucid berry, the size of a large pea, umbilicated at the summit, of an acid flavour, but destitute of aroma.

Fig. 1. Flower. 2. The same, cut through vertically, showing the stamens and style. 3. Ovary, cut through transversely :— magnified

Described by Oates as growing at Monserrate in 1923: "Metrosideros floribunda (with masses of long adventitous roots hanging from the branches)". Aerial roots? - sounds more like Metrosiderus robusta. But there is a large "lilly pilly" growing at this spot (part of the area called Australia, next to some Podocarpus) maybe this needs a closer look - if it ever flowers in such deep shade.

Phyllocladus trichomanoides

Icones Plantarum Or Figures, with Brief Descriptive Characters and Remarks, of New Or Rare Plants, Selected from the Author's Herbarium By William Jackson Hooker, Joseph Dalton

Phyllocladus trichomanoides

A Description of the Genus Pinus, ed. 3 2: 159. 1832.

Tanekaha, Celery Pine

Botany Bay House described in Curtis's Boranical Magazine vol. 71, 1845 the oldest and largest trees were received as a gift from Capt. Sir W. Symonds, Surveyor General of the Navy. Included "peculiar-looking Phyllocladus trichomanoides" from New Zealand.

New Zealand: N Cape (N Island) and northern Marlborough and Nelson districts, extending to nearly lat. 42° on west of the S Island; in lowland forest up to 800 m above sea level. It is a hardy tree that grows equally well in shade or in the open (Allan 1961, Salmon 1996).

Phyllocladus, R. Br., Rich. Conif. p. 129.
326. P.* trichomanoides, frondibus pinnatis, foliolis cuneatis inciso-lobatir, lobis truncatis dentatis. Don. in Lamb. Pin. edit. 2. App. Rich. Conif. p.129. t. 3.—P. rhomboidalis. A. Rick. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 363. non E. L. Rich., Br. et excl. tyn. LabiU.—Tanekaha of the natives, Rev. W. Yale. " Toa- toa ab incolis vulgo dicitur," D'Urville.

New Zealand (Northern Island), forests on the banks of the river Thames, and in dry woods on hills at the Bay of Islands, Wangaroa, &c.—1826, A. Cunningham.

A tree of straight tapering growth, occasionally attaining the height of sixty feet, seldom, however, exceeding a diameter of three feet. The wood is a shade darker than the Dammara or Kauri; it has a closer grain, smells strongly of turpentine, and being less affected with wet than any other pine, is regarded as an exceedingly valuable wood. " It is used," says the Rev. W. Yate, " for all kinds of outside work, such as posts and floors for verandahs, and is much sought after for the decks of vessels." Its bark is used by the natives for dying a red colour, which they prepare in the following way: " The bark," says Bennett, " is pounded and then placed in a vessel of cold water, into which hot stones are thrown till the water boils, this being the natives' mode of treating water, since, having no knowledge of pottery, they possess no vessel which can be placed on the fire. After the bark has been boiled for some hours, the decoction becomes of a dark red colour; it is then left to cool, when it is strained and ready for use."

Chrysophyllum imperiale

Illustration Horticole 1874

Chrysophyllum imperiale (Linden ex K. Koch & Fintelm.) Benth. & Hook. f.
Genera Plantarum 2: 653. 1876.

This plant still grows at Monserrate. Though you'd be hard pressed to find it without a guide. Its in the old nursery ground, near the Roman Arch. You'll have to crick your neck to see it as the canopy is well above the surrounding vegetation-

Mentioned in 1885, 1923 & 1929 the plant was probaly planted in the 1860's since at this time this genus was at the height of popularity. Linden was awarded a first prize at the 1867 Paris Exposition for a collection that included The following species Th. imperialis, attenuata, glauca, macrophylla, crassipes, angustifolia, latifolia, undulala, longiflora, and nobilis, "tous à beau feuillage et gigantesques."

"This noble plant was an inmate of both British and Continental botanical gardens for thirty years before its genus was determined. [...] according to a careful history of it drawn up by M. André (L'Illust. Hortic. vol. xxi, 1874, p. 77 & 152, t. 184), the first living specimen known in Europe belonged to to Madame Legrelle-d'Hanis, at Berchem, where M. Linden saw it in 1846 with the name Theophrasta imperialis. In 1849 M. Libon sent living plants to M. de Jonghe at Brussels, and later on M. Linden received several hundred specimens from his collector, M. Marius Porte ; after which the plant became common in Europe. M. Linden's importation was of seedlings, and amongst these were ungerminated seeds which enabled that gentleman to refer that plant to the Sapotaceae. For a knowledge of its native country we are indebted to M. Houillet, of the Jardin de Plantes, to which establishment M. Porte sent plants, with information that they were from the province of Rio de Janeiro. Lastly herbarium specimens in flower and fruit were sent to Kew by that most energetic botanist M. Glaziou, Director of Public Parks at Rio, which enabled Mr. Bentham, when studying the order Sapotaceae for the Genera Plantarum, to refer the foundling to the essentailly American genus Chrysophyllum. M. Glaziou gives as the precise habitat the Serro da Estrello ; M. André gives the Mountain of Tijuca in the chain of the Corcovado, which is, I believe, part of the Serro da Estrello. (J. D. Hooker)

Flowered first in Europe at Cork, Ireland in April 1884.


Curtis's Botanical Magazine
Vol. XLI nº 6823 (1897)

Plantae Brasiliae centralis a Glaziou lectae
Liste des plantes du Brsil central recueillies en 1861-1895 / par A.-F.-M. Glaziou. (1828-1906)
47. Martiusella imperialis Pierre in Notes Botaniques Sapot., p. 66. -- Serra da Estrella et de Nova Friburgo, RIO-JAN., nºs 6633, 7745, 8230, 11163 et 20402. Grand arbre, fl blanchâtres, Novembre décembre. C.




Theophrasta imperialis Linden ex K. Koch & Fintelm. Wochenschrift für Gärtnerei und Pflanzenkunde 2: 91. 1859.

Synonyms
Chloroluma imperialis (Linden ex K. Koch & Fintelm.) Aubrév.
Martiusella imperialis (Linden ex K. Koch & Fintelm.) Pierre
Planchonella imperialis (Linden ex K. Koch & Fintelm.) Baehni
Theophrasta imperialis Linden ex K. Koch & Fintelm.

Theophrasta ? imperialis Hort. ; André in L'Illust. Hortic. vol. xxi, 1874, p. 77 & 152, t. 184
Regel, Gartenfl. 1864 p. 323, t. 453

Curatella speciosa, Dene, mss.

Brahea armata

as Brahea Roezlii, 1929.

Phoenix reclinata

As Phoenix spinosa - old nursery 1923. "with seven well-furnished trunks from one root" 1929.

Jubaea chilensis

old nursery 1923

Cycas revoluta

large Cycas revoluta on the lawn near palacio (1923)

Zamia horrida

Dioon edule

Fine specimen on steep slope near arethusa's tank (1923)

Cycas circinalis

Phoenix rupicola

Very rare (Walter Oates)

Washingtonia robusta

"The tallest palm in the garden, about seventy feet high" 1929

Livistona australis

Corypha australis 1923

Phoenix canariensis

Phoenix canariensis Chabaud
Provence agricole et horticole illustrée; organe de l'agriculture et de l'horticulture méridionales. Toulon. 19: 293, f. 66-68. 1882.

Phoenix dactylifera var. jubae Webb & Berthel.
Histoire Naturelle des Îles Canaries 3: 289. 1847.

Phoenix jubae (Webb & Berthel.) Webb ex H. Christ
Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, ~
Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 6: 469. 1885.

Phoenix dactylifera var. jubae, Phoenix tenuis, Phoenix cycadifolia, Phoenix jubae, Phoenix vigieri, Phoenix erecta, Phoenix macrocarpa, Phoenix canariensis var. porphyrococca

Phoenix tenuis Verschaff., Cat. 84: 13 (1869), nom. nud.

Common Names:Canary Islands date palm, Canaries date palm, Canary date, Canary date palm. French: Palmier dattier des Canaries, Palmier ornemental des Canaries. German: Dattelpalme, Kanarische Dattelpalme


Phoenix dactylifera var. jubae Webb & Berthel., Hist. Nat. Iles Canaries 3: 289 (1847).
Phoenix tenuis Verschaff., Cat. 84: 13 (1869), nom. nud.
Phoenix cycadifolia Regel, Gartenflora 28: 131 (1879), provisional synonym.
Phoenix jubae (Webb & Berthel.) Webb ex H.Christ, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 6: 469 (1885).
Phoenix vigieri Naudin, Rev. Hort. 57: 541 (1885).
Phoenix erecta Sauv., Rev. Hort. 66: 495 (1894), nom. inval.
Phoenix macrocarpa Sauv., Rev. Hort. 66: 495 (1894), nom. inval.
Phoenix canariensis var. porphyrococca Vasc. & Franco, Portugaliae Act. Biol., Sér. B, Sist. 2: 313 (1948).

William Robinson used the name Ph. tenuis in his Parks, promenades and gardens of Paris, p. 246 and parks and Gardens of Paris p. 239

Livistona chinensis

Known erroneously in gardens for many years as Latania borbonica hort. which see.

Phoenix dactylifera

The Date Palm

Howea belmoureana

Planted at Monserrate with a group of other palms in "Mexico" according to report 1890

Cycad collection

Walter Oates in 1923, new to his job, clearly knew nothing of Cycads. In his "Short Guide to the Gardens" he mentions two collections of cycads. Of the first, grouped with the palms at the foot of the lawn, he recognises only one species, the widely cultivated Cycas circinalis; the second group, in "Mexico" is without elucidation. He does however make specific mention of: close to the path a fine specimen of the rare Macrozamia Macleayi . Walter Oates 1923

By 1929, he had learnt the names of quite a few. The inference is that these plants existed before his tenure, probably from the early plantings of Francis Cook. Here is his description from the article written for the Gardeners' Chronicle: Cycads are represented by fine plants of Dioon edule, Encephalartos Lehmannii, E. villosum, E. horridus, Cycas revoluta, C. circinalis, Macrozamia spiralis and many other species. On the lawn, standing alone, is a magnificent plant of Macrozamia Macleayi, with a trunk 3 ft. high, 2 ft. thick, and with three large branches, each bearing broad, pinnate, glossy, dark-green leaves 6 ft. to 8 ft. long. Walter Oates, 1929

Already in 1885 Macrozamia miquelii was grown (as Macrozamia mackenzii)

The List:
Dioone edule
Encephalartos: lehmanii, villosum, horridus
Cycas: revoluta, circinalis
Macrozamia: spiralis, macleayi, miquelii

To this list Javier Segura adds Ceratozamia mexicana from recent observation. The Encephalartos and Macrozamias have disappeared.

Surviving list:
Dioone edule
Cycas circinalis
Cycas revoluta
Ceratozamia mexicana