Snow Mitt (C.japonica) | Hume Camellia Society

The Family Tree – Camellia Japonica “Gauntlettii”

18 04 2012

A Power Point presentation given by Lynette Gleeson at the meeting 15 April, 2012

Camellia Japonica “Gauntlettii”

This camellia is of Japanese origin from the Kantô area and old trees are plentiful around Shikoku. First listed and illustrated by the Yokohama Nursery Co in their 1905 catalogue as Camellia japonica grandiflora. As this name had previously been used in the Floricultural Cabinet in 1826 it is invalid for this camellia. The Japanese name Sodekakushi does not appear to be published before 1912. It was imported into England by Gauntlett’s Nursery from the Yokahama Nursery Company and renamed Gauntlettii In the Gauntlett Nursery Catalogue, 1909-1910. Described as a new Japanese camellia, large, single, white flowers, 10-12.5 cm across when expanded, with a tuft of rich, golden stamens. A flower of good substance, of delicious, soft appearance.

Puddle & Hanger, in The Rhododendron and Camellia Yearbook, 1960, Description was Form: Semi-double. Petals: 10-17, usually 15, orbicular with a short haft , 6 cm long, 6 cm wide, distinctly notched, petals elevated at first to form a cup-shaped flower, but later becoming flat with outer petals recurved. Stamens: Arranged in a loose central ring. A few white petaloids are often mixed with stamens. Diameter: 12 cm. Colour: White with a creamy tendency in the centre. Foliage: Deep to yellowish green, large elliptic, 10-12 cm long x 5-6 cm wide, thick, heavily veined, margins serrate. Habit: A somewhat slow grower, upright when young, eventually forming an open branched plant, not well clothed with foliage. Both the names Grandiflora Alba and Alba Grandiflora, which have been used for this cultivar, are invalid as previously used for other camellia cultivars. In England it has received three “Awards of Merit”, one as Compton Brow White, one as Alba Grandiflora and one as Sodegakushi. In America it is known by the synonym Lotus. Synonyms include Sodegakushi, Sodekakushi, Lady Lotus, Lotus, Compton Brow White, Gauntletts White, Mrs Sander, Yokohama, and invalidly Alba Grandiflora, Grandiflora Alba, Grandiflora. This cultivar is a triploid and has been seed parent to many fine camellias. Sodekakushi. This Japanese name means to conceal under the sleeve, which alludes to the fact that the flower is so attractive that it could be concealed under a persons sleeve. Chinese synonym Gangte. Gao, Jiyin, 2007, The Identification….Outstanding Camellias, p.422 Chinese synonym Hehua, as Lotus.

First Generation Decendants:

A.W. Jessep (C.japonica), Alba Queen (C.japonica), Ama-no-gawa (The Milky Way)(C.japonica), Andromeda (C.japonica), Aztec (C.reticulata x C.japonica), Break O’Day (C.japonica), Bride’s Bouquet (C.japonica), Carolyn Adams (C.x williamsii), Charles Henty (C.japonica), Chrissie (C.japonica), Coral Pink Lotus (C.japonica), Coronation (US) (C.japonica), Doris Hirst (C.japonica), Ernest Gill(C.japonica), Evalina (C.japonica), Exaltation (C.x williamsii), Extravaganza (C.japonica), Fairest Day (C.japonica), Fashion Note (C.japonica), Frosty Morn (C.japonica), Grand Finale (C.japonica), Guest of Honor (C.japonica), Henry J. Henty (C.japonica), Hiyoshigiku (Hiyoshi Chrysanthemum) (C.japonica), Jenny Jones (C.japonica), Joy Mooney (C.japonica), Julia’s Wish (C.japonica), Kia Ora (C.x williamsii), Kôki (Kagawa) (Glory) (C.japonica), Lady Fair (C.japonica), Lellah Callison (C.japonica), Lillian Ricketts (C.japonica), Lovelight (C.japonica), Lucy Hester (C.japonica), Margaret Burstal (C.japonica), Masterpiece (C.japonica), May A’Vard (C.japonica), Mrs Bertha A. Harms (C.japonica), Mure-hinohakama (Mures Scarlet Skirt) (C.japonica), Otto Hopfer (C.reticulata x C.japonica), Pink Ice (C.japonica), Pink Parfait (C.japonica), Pink Shadows (C.japonica), Red Ensign (C.japonica), Ryûbi (Holding Beauty) (C.japonica), Shirotae-no-sode Shuûrei (Graceful) (C.japonica), Snow Mitt (C.japonica), Takumi(C.japonica), Tôtenko (Crowing in the Dawn) (C.rusticana), Tsuji-ga-hana (C.japonica), Whimsical (C.x williamsii), White Giant (C.japonica), White Nun (C.japonica), Wonderland (C.japonica), Zuikô (Auspicious Light) (C.japonica)