Ridolfi Striata

Burnier Catalogue Supplement, 1842; Berlèse, 1843, Iconographie, vol.2, pl.128 as ‘Ridolphii Striata’: The flower is 9-10 cm across; full, of a soft white with stripes and band of blood red, irregularly placed, principally on the petals of the circumference; these are oval, somewhat broad, entire, often rounded and notched. The middle petals are numerous, unequal, irregularly disposed and forming a convex heart. The entire flower is irregular, however, sometimes more or less imbrication appears in the disposition of the outer petals, those of the centre are then better disposed. ‘Ridolfii Striata’ was obtained by seed in Florence some years ago by Marquis Ridolfi and was introduced 4 years ago by Mr Bonard, formerly chief gardener for the Marquis. Mr Bonard imported, at the same time a second camellia which he believed was without a name, and which Mr Paillet named ‘Bonardii’ but was found to have long borne the name Ridolfi in Florence. Thus to regularize the nomenclature of these two varieties the first is nominated Ridolphi Striata and the second ‘Ridolphi-Bonardiana’. Note: As the first camellia is Italian and named in Italy for an Italian Marquise, the Italian orthogra­phy takes precedence over the French, also Ridolfi has precendence over ‘Ridolphi-Bonar­diana’ due to prior publication. Orthographic variant: ‘Ridolphi Striata’.