Juana de Vega

First published in magazine of Sociedad Española de la Camelia 2020, Camelia 37:47, with colour photos. Originated by Begoña Franco and José Torres in Finca Chazo (Boiro, Spain), and registered by Estación Fitopatolóxica Areeiro (Deputación de Pontevedra, Galicia, SPAIN). A seedling from C. oleifera ‘Jaune’ x C. sasanqua, first flowering in 2008. FLOWER: medium size, 7.5-9 cm in diameter and 2.5-3.2 cm depth; anemone flowers, white color with light rose diffused margin (60C-D RHSCC); 7-10 petals, rounded and elliptical with lightly waved and notched margin; 95 to 140 creamy-white petaloids, with ordered arrangement; around 20 stamens with cream filaments and mixed with petaloids. LEAF: small size, 5.5-7 cm length and 2.2-3.5 cm width, medium bright green, elliptical to lanceolate, with dentate margin, pointed to acuminated apex and acute base. PLANT: bushy plant with fast and open growth habit. Very early blooming period, it begins in August and continue until December. Flower falls complete. Other data: it was named in honor of Juana de Vega, Countess of Espoz and Mina (1805-1872), Spanish liberal writer and activist. She was Isabel II’s governess and main maid in palace; her social labor as cultural sponsor and supporting the needy was very well-known. After her died, with no descendants, almost all her possessions were to the Foundation with her name, whose aim was to create an agricultural school to improve the farmer’s education in A Coruña Province (Galicia, Spain). At present, this Foundation continue developing activities to contribute to rural development in Galicia through related initiative with agro food sector, education and investigation in related themes with landscape.