Mathotiana Alba

010 ,106  mathotijana alba

Mathotiana Alba. (C.japonica), van Houtte Catalogue, 1858; Verschaffelt 1858, Nouvelle Iconographie, Book VI, pl.II. Found in a group of seedlings obtained by the late Mr Mathot of Ghent. Its blossoms of the largest size, are composed of very numerous, ample petals of equal size, ovate and almost pointed, of a snow white colouring and imbricated. This formal double camellia, about 10 cm across, is white with a rare pink fleck, vigorous, upright growth and large, light green leaves, smooth, leathery with obscure serrations. Note: This cultivar and its sports bear no relationship with Mathotiana, Grand Sultan or Julia Drayton. Sports: Mathotiana Rosea, Mathotiana Rosea Variegated, Souvenir de Bahuaud-Litou. Synonyms: ‘Blood of Christ’, ‘Inconstant Beauty’. Orthographic errors: ‘Matholiana Alba’, ‘Mattutiana Alba’, ‘Mathottiana Alba’, ‘Mathoniana Alba’, ‘Mothotiana Alba’, ‘Mattothiana Alba’, ‘Mathatiana Alba’, ‘Mathistiana Alba’. See colour pl.XXXV, Urquhart, 1960, The Camellia, vol.II. For black and white photos see p.231, Hertrich, 1955, Camellias in the Huntington Gardens, vol.II and Sharp, 1958, Camellias Illustrated, p.160.