Alba Simplex

 (C.japonica)
1) Anonymous,1816-1817, Allgemeines Teutsches Gartenmagazin as 'Alba Simpl.'.
2) ??: A seedling of 'Variegata', raised in 1813 by Rollison of the Tooting Nursery. It is a single, white with occasional pink flecks, 6-7 petals, broadly ovate, apex retuse, 4.5 cm x 4 cm long. Stamens in a central cluster, conjoined for the lower third of length.

It was first illustrated in Loddige's Botanical Cabinet, 1822, t. 638, under the name 'Alba'. Also figured in pl.17, Chandler & Booth, Illustrations and Descriptions... as 'flore albo'
See colour plate, page 112, Fairweather,1979, Rhododendrons & Camellias.

Orthographic errors and variants: 'Alba Simplice'',' Alba Flore Simplici', 'Simplex Alba'

See further Illustration in Redouté 1827, pl. 14 as 'Camellia blanc'; or see my reprint.

goback to a_index

Alba Plena Casoretti
Vervaene Catalog No. 11, 1888.
Orthographic variant for Alba Plena di Casoretti'.

Alba Plena Cassoreti
Companhia Horticulo-Agricolo Portuense, No. 40(ca. 1904), p. 67.
Orthograpic error for Alba Plena di Casoretti

Alba Plens Cassoretti
Fendig, 1953, American Camellia Catalogue.
Orthograpic error for Alba Plena di Casoretti

Alba Plena di Casoretti

 (C. japonica),
1) Oudin, Lisieux Nursery Cataloge, 1844, page 9 as 'Alba Prima di Casoretti':
Perfect imbricated form, very numerous petals, recurved from the centre to the circumference, forming an elevated center of the purest white.
2) van Houtte Catalogue, 1845, 18:7, as 'Alba Casoretti': Flower medium to large size, 9.5cm across x 4.5cm deep, white with tints of yelloish green in the centre, outer petals, 14 in 3 rows, inner 9, folded and waved petaloids with stamens intermixed

A seedling originated by Casoretti of Italy.
For Illustration see Verschaffelt, 1849, Nouvelle Iconographie, Book VII; PL: II as 'Alba Prima di Casoretti'

goback to a_index

Alba Queen

 (C. japonica),
Thompson, 1950.American Camellia Yearbook, p. 144:
This variety is a large size, fluffy, loose, incomplete double white. It is a cross between 'Gauntlettii' as 'Lotus' and 'Julia Drayton' as 'Mathotiana' made by Barney Goletto, Milwaukie, Oregon, USA. The foliage is similar to 'Julia Drayton'.

goback to a_index

Alba Rosea Virginalis
 Berlese, 1840,Monographie: ed. 2, p. 199,200,135.

Berlese received this without a name and called it 'Alba Rosea Virginalis'. However in his 1845 Monographiehe says he saw it at the Ghent Exhibition of 1844 as 'Miniata Striata'. It was listed by most nurseries of the time as 'Miniata Striata', but all later than 1840. However it is a seedling originated by Lows Nursery, London and the originator's name has priority.

So, what is the right name? K.P.

Alba Plena

 (C. japonica),
1) Andrew's Botanical Repository,1: pl. 25, 1797, as 'Flore Plena Albo':
Camellia with large double white flowers.
2) Listed again in the 1812 Botanical Repository, vol. 10, pl. 660;
3) Loddige's Catalogue, 1814 as 'Alba Pleno' and in their 1822 Catalogue as 'Alba Plena'.

The cultivar was brought to England from China in 1792, by Captain Connor on the East Indiaman, "Carnatic". It was taken to USA by Floy in 1800 for John Stevens, New Jersey. The camellia bears a full double, symmetrically imbricated (formal) medium to large size, white flower, showing no stamens and opening flat. It is about 10cm across and 3.5cm deep. The petals decrease in size towards the centre. A medium to slow grower with light green foliage, leaves ovate, sometimes twisted and turned down at the apex.
Sports include 'Fimbriata', 'Mrs Hooper Connell', 'Mattie R', and 'Blush Plena'.
Synonyms: 'Nankin-shiro', 'Da Bai', 'Baiyupei', 'Baiyang Cha', 'Qiayebai', 'Nankin Bai', 'Baichahua', 'Bourbon Camellia', 'Double White', 'Old White', 'Old double White', 'French White', 'Thousand Petalled White', 'Alba Plena Improved', 'Alba Plena Late', 'Il Cygno(Hearn)', 'Alba Pleno', 'Alba Plena Ancien',.
See colour photo p. 68, Macaboy, 1981, Colour Dictionary of Camellias.
Also, together with C. j. 'Rubra', in Allgemeines Teutsches Gartenmagazin 1818, pl. 21; or see my reprint.
Originated in China.

goback to a_index

Alba Simplice
 Curtis, 1819, Monograph.
Orthographic variant for 'Alba Simplex'.

goback to a_index
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.