Veitch's Manual of the Coniferae

A Manual of the Coniferae
James Veitch & Sons
Royal Exotic Nursery, 544, King's Road, Chelsea, S.W.
1881

Cryptomeria japonica 'Lobbii'

Cryptomeria japonica 'Lobbi'

Cryptomeria japonica D. Don 'Lobbi' Veitch

Cryptomeria japonica D. Don forma lobbii [Carr.] Beissner

Walter Oates described this conifer that stood for many years at the top of the lawn next to the palacio: "C. japonica var. Lobbii stands in a good position at the top of the lawn and is very conspicuous." 1929

This is the pyramidal conifer that is seen in so many postcard views. Some descriptions erroneously describe this as Thuya plicata, a tree that would quickly have out grown this situation.

Description: Slower growing than the species and dense, more compact foliage. Stands all extremes of growing conditions but especially good in high rainfall areas that are well drained. Ideal for a large hedge or slow growing shelter belt. A conical, symmetrical tree. Very neat. 4.5 metres high x 2 metres wide in 10 years in our Nursery/Garden. Zone 5. http://www.conifers.co.nz/cryptomeria/cryptomeria.html

James Veitch A Manual of the Coniferae 1881, p. 219

Cryptomeria japonica Lobbi is more compact in habit than the tree above described [C. japonica] ; the branchlets are less pendulous, the foliage is of a brighter and deeper green, the leaves shorter, more pointed, and more closely adpressed to the branchlets. It was sent to us from the Botanic Garden at Buitenzorg, in Java, by Mr. Thomas Lobb in 1853.

p. 221 Seeds of the Japanese Cryptomeria were sent by Dr. Siebold to the Dutch Botanic Garden at Buitenzorg, in Java, so long ago as 1825, and one of the trees raised from this seed was the parent plant of those brought to us from the same garden in 1853, by Mr. Thomas Lobb, from which originated all those now cultivated under the nmae of Cryptomeria japonica Lobbi. It is therefore evident that the latter is the true C. japonica, although Siebold affirms that it differs from the Japanese type in its lighter green foliage, but this difference is too trifling to affect the main fact. It would be more correct nomenclature for the tree at present known in British gardens as C. japonica, to be called C. japonica Fortunei, and that known as C. japonica Lobbi, to be known as C. japonica. [...] In England the Cryptomeria has proved to be hardy, but good specimens are comparatively rare in this country, owing, probably, to climatal causes, the most potent being a less annual rainfall, and a lower average summer temperature than in Japan. It is only in deep rich soils, with an abundance of moisture, and protected from piercing winds, that the Cryptomeria develops the fine ornamental qualities it is seen to possess in its native country, and when planted in such spots, a clear space having a radius of not less than 15 feet should be allowed for it.

Crinum moorei

Crinum moorei Hook. f.
Botanical Magazine t. 6113. vol. c (1874)

Crinum Moorei was introduced into the Glasnevin Gardens in 1863, by a friend of Dr. Moore's, Mr. Webb, who had served on the commissariat staff of our army in South Africa, and had brought the seeds from the interior -- as Dr. Moore thinks -- of Natal.

http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantcd/crinummoor.htm

Crinum moorei is found in large colonies in damp, marshy areas in the shade. Bulbs collected from Port St Johns by Dr L.E. Codd (Verdoorn 1961) were found on the margin of a patch of coastal forest in heavy black soil near water.

Crassula multicava

Crassula multicava Lem.
L'illustration horticole 9: misc. p.40. 1862.
Crassulaceae

Nous avons eu pour la première fois conaissance de cette belle et remarquable espèce en visitant (juin 1861) la riche collection de cactées et de plantes grasses de toutes espèces, cultivées chez M. François Cels, Chaussée de Maine (Petit-Mont-Rouge, Paris). En ce moment, 15 avril, elle est encore en fleurs, depuis la fin de dècembre dernier, haute à peine de vingt centimètres, sans la panicule. [...] Nous n'en conaissons ni la patrie, ni l'auteur de sa découverte ou de son introduction ; mais pouvons la recommander en conaissance de cause à tous les amateurs, à ceux même qui n'aimeraient les plantes dites grasses (et pourquoi?); elle est d'une croissance rapide; car l'individu en question, haut de 0,02 centim, au moment où nous l'avons planté à l'état de bouture, a, en six mois à peine, com nous venons de le dire, acquis les dimensions dites plus haut, et est encore en pleine floraison au moment où nous parlons.

C. multicava is a moderate to fast-growing, mat-forming, evergreen groundcover up to ± 300 mm, that produces an outstanding uniform effect when planted in masses. As with all members of the genus, the glossy, oval to round leaves are formed in opposite pairs. They are light to dark green depending on the position in the garden, darker in the shade and paler in semi-shade to sunny places. The flowers are petite, charming little stars hence the common name fairy crassula, and appear in masses above the attractive leaves. The leaves contain hydathodes (water secreting pores), which serve for rapid absorption of water from the leaf surface.

C. multicava occurs on forest margins, river and stream banks, and in coastal and subtropical thickets from Mpumulanga, Natal to the Eastern and s outhern Cape . Plants show a preference for well-composted, deep soils as well as clay soils and occur in partial shade. They are found in sheltered, frost-free areas.

... infusions of the plant are sprinkled around the homestead as a protective charm against lightning.
http://www.plantzafrica.com/

Forget-me-not

Myosotis latifolia Poiret
Lam. Encycl. Méth. Bot. 12: 45 (1812)

Listed in Flora de Portugal (Franco) as occuring at Sintra

Corynocarpus laevigatus

Curtis's Botanical Magazine
William Jackson Hooker,
vol 74, Nº 4379 (1848)

A native of New Zealand, drawn from a specimen sent by the late Mrs. Sherbourne, from her collection at Hurst House, Lancashire, and the only one we have seen; so that in the absence of fruit, we can only speak, as Mr. Allan Cunningham and others have done, doubtfully, as to its place in the Natural System. The position of the seed alone would militate against its being one of the Myrsinacea, and there is a something in the structure of its flowers indicating an affinity very different from that family. Although the blossoms have little to recommend them, the plant itself "forms a tree," says Mr. Cunningham, " Karaka of the natives, upon which the eye of the traveller rests with pleasure, by reason of its rich dark glossy leaves and highly ornamental growth; and it furnishes a plum-like fruit, of which the drupaceous coat, when fully ripe of a sweetish taste, is eaten by the natives. The nut or kernel also, upon being deprived (by steaming and maceration in salt water) of the poisonous property it is said to possess, is held in considerable estimation by the New Zealanders, who collect and use it for food, in seasons of dearth. If eaten without this necessary preparation, the person becomes seized with severe spasmodic pains and convulsions; from which the sufferer, in some cases, does not recover, but has been observed to die in great agony in a few hours. The timber is not used for any other purpose than as fire-wood, being of short fibre and very soft." It is a green-house plant, and flowers in May.



Corynocarpus laevigata
J. R. & G. Forster
Prodr. n. 114 Char. Gen. Pl. 16. 1775

Corynocarpaceae

Synonym

Merretia lucida Sol MSS. in Bibl. Banks

Cortaderia selloana

From Paxton's Flower garden, 1851

Cortaderia selloana (Schult. & Schult. f.) Asch. & Graebn.

Arundo dioeca Spreng., nom illeg., non Arundo dioica Lour.,
Arundo selloana (Schult. & Schult. f.) Asch. & Graebner
Gynerium argenteum Nees.

Named for the German gardener Friedrich Sellow (Sello). 1789-1831 who died by drowning, botanical explorer, naturalist, plant collector in Brazil and Uruguay.

Temperate central South America, noxious weed invasive in many parts of the world.

Pampas Grass


The Floricultural Cabinet, and Florists Magazine (1851)
Notes on New or Rare Plants
Joseph Harrison
p. 27

Gynerium Argenteum ; (or, Arundo Dioica, or A. Selloana). The Pampas Grass of South America, where it inhabits the vast plains, and is said to grow ten yards high, and bear panicles of silky, silvery-white flowers two feet or more long.

It is a tall perennial plant in our own country and its fine plumes of flowers, borne by such a noble plant, renders it highly interesting and ornamental. It was introduced from South America by Mr. Moore, curator of the Botanic Garden, Dublin. The plant appears to be hardy in this country, flourishing in the garden of Robert Hutton, Esq., of Putney Park, near London. It is also in the Chiswick garden.

Paxton's Flower garden 1851
John Lindley, Joseph Paxton
Gleanings and Original Memoranda
p. 175-6

231. Gynerium Argenteum. Nees, (aliàs Arundo dioica Sprengel; aliàs Arundo Selloana Schultes.) A tall reedy perennial, with harsh serrated leaves, and large erect silky plumes of flowers. Belongs to Grasses. Native of Brazil and Montevideo. (Fig. III.)

This noble plant, now called the Pampas Grass, in consequence of its inhabiting the vast plains of S. America so named, has been introduced within a few years through Mr. Moore, of the Glasnevin Botanic Garden. Although but a Grass it will probably form one of the most useful objects of garden decoration obtained for many years. In stature it rivals the Bamboo, being described as growing in its native plains several times as high as a man. The leaves are hard, wiry, very rough at the edge, not half an inch broad at the widest part, of a dull grey green colour, much paler below. They are edged by sharp points or teeth, little less hard than the teeth of a file. The flowers appear in panicles from one and a half to two and a half feet long, resembling those of the common reed, but of a silvery whiteness, owing to their being covered with very long colourless hairs, and themselves consisting of colourless membranous glumes and pales.

According to Prof. Kunth this species is an Arundo. But to us it appears quite as different from that genus as from Gynerium. And although it is by no means one of the same genus as G. saccharoides, yet it may as well preserve its common name, faulty though it be, as be transferred to Arundo, from which it must be expelled. The inflexed hook of its pales is extremely remarkable, and, together with its dioecious character, leads to the inference that it may be a genus distinct from either.

The plant appears to be hardy. The annexed sketch was made in the garden of Robert Hutton, Esq., of Putney Park ; the species exists also in that of the Horticultural Society, to which it was presented by the Botanic Garden, Glasnevin.

Given the similarity between these two notices it is difficult to know which is an original memorandum and which a "gleaning"!"