Nobillisima

029  Nobillissima

Nobilissima. (C.japonica), Loddiges Catalogue, 1836, p.25. No description. Cels, Paris Nursery Cata-logue, 1836-1837, p.9. No description. Harrison, ed., 1837, The Floricultural Cabinet, vol.V, p.267 as ‘Double White’. Berlèse, 1837, Monographie, ed.1, pp.55, 125: Leaves, 8.5 cm long x 6 cm wide, roundish-oval, a little acute, much dentated, green; bud, oval, obtuse, scales yellowish; flower, large, 7.5 cm across, full, white; exterior petals large, numerous, recurved; those of the interior, smaller, crowded, rumpled; in appearance like Pompone. In the synoptic tables Berlèse gives it as introduced from Belgium in 1834. There are two accounts of its origin. In Berlèse, 1841, Iconographie, p. facing pl.153, it is said to be raised from the same fruits as ‘Madame la Duchess de Nemours’ and Lefévriana while Le Texnier, 1911, p.21 says that it was introduced by Lefévre in 1835. On the other hand it is found to be similar, if not the same as a Japanese cultivar known in the USA as ‘Fujiyama’ and it has been considered by some authorities to have possibly been introduced by von Siebold together with Tricolor, ‘Donckelaeri’ and Ochroleuca 1829-1830. According to Schiavonne, 1981, Il Giardino nell Camelie, it was figured for Sacco, 1830-1833. However the evidence establishes that the valid cultivar of this name was raised as a seedling by Lefévre in Belgium about 1834. Mertens & Fontaine, Collection de cent espèces.....camellia, 1845, pl. 19. Orthographic errors: ‘Noblissima’, ‘Nobillissima’, ‘Nobilisima’, ‘Nobelissima’, ‘Nobblissima’, ‘Noblessima’, ‘Nobiliesima’. Synonyms: ‘Fostine’, ‘Fujiyama’, ‘Fugiama White’, ‘Maman Cochet’. Baumann, 1841 gives ‘Waddi’ as a synonym. For colour pl. see p.124, Fairweather, 1979, Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Chinese synonym ‘Bainuobo’.