(C.japonica), Loddiges Catalogue, 1836, p.25. No description. Cels, Paris Nursery Catalogue,

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’.

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