Miniata

Costa, 1846, Catalogue de la collection de Camellias présentée à sa majesté L’Impera­trice de toutes les Russies et Reine de Pologne, p.6. No description. The Gardeners’ Chronicle And Agricultural Gazette, 1847, May 1, p.287. "raised by Mr. Low of Clapton. The centre is rich crimson, cupped, and well up, cncompassed by three concentric rows, somewhat reflexed, of very delicate pink petals, and these again succeeded by three other rows of rosy pink ones, giving the flower a variegated and extrmely interesting appearance. The plant has fine foliage, and it is stated that the flowers come larger on older plants."  Paxton’s Botanical Magazine, vol.14, Aug. 1848; van Houtte’s Flore des Serres.---vol.3, Oct.1847; Harrison’s Floricultural Cabi­net, Nov.1847 and Verschaffelt, 1848, Nouvelle Iconographie, Book II, pl.IV all published descrip­tions and illustration: This variety adds to the family of the camellia with its perfect regularity and the double colour of the flowers. It was raised in England by the firm of Hugh Low & Co., Clapton. Paxton stated that it was raised from seed of Myrtifolia pollinated by Incarnata which produced some imperfect blooms with stamens. The flower shape is similar to Myrtifo­lia and it has some of the blush of Incarnata in the centre. In the early season the flower colour is crimson but later in the spring it has 3 or 4 rows of blush white with crimson again in the cen­tre. Synonyms: ‘Miniata de Low’, ‘Miniata Low’s’, ‘Miniata di Low’s’. Note: In William Paul’s lecture “The Camellia and its Culture” printed in the Journal of Horticultural and Cottage Gardening, Jan. 23, 1871, pp.114-118, he states that Mr. Fielder informed him that he had raised Miniata from the cross of C.sasanqua x Lepida. However the origin of Miniata as it is known today is more likely as described in Paxton’s Botanical Magazine.