Sinningia Youngeana

Floricultural Magazine 1: 204-205 (1837)
SINNINGIA YOUNGEANA, Dr. Younge's Sinningia. (Fig. 2.)
This variety of Sinningia has been raised in the Sheffield Garden, from seeds of S. velutina [Helleri], the flowers of which had been impregnated with pollen from the flowers of Gloxinia speciosa. The stem is upright, nine inches high, of a greyish-green, marked with a few red streaks at the joints. The leaves are ovate lanceolate, on strongish footstalks, together with the leaf twelve inches long and fonr In breadth. The flowers are produced two or three together, from the axils of the leaves. At the base, the form of the flower is that of Sinningia, narrow, deeply furrowed, and of a whitish colour, but at the extremity spreading like the Gloxinia, and of a reddish-purple colour. The whole plant is shining, and thinly covered with hairs. It appears to be a free flowerer: the plant, which is yet but comparatively small, has now upwards of twenty flowers, some in bloom and others in a state of forwardness, each blossom remaining in perfection nearly three weeks.
    This is a decided improvement on the Sinningia, and whether it is regarded as handsomer than the Gloxinia, will depend on the taste of individuals; it is, at all events, a very distinct plant.
    We have taken the liberty of commemorating with this plant the name of the highly and justly respected President of the Sheffield Garden, William Younge, M.D. Whether for length of service, or for the dedication of superior talents and virtues, benevolence and science owe but to few a larger debt than to Dr. Younge. He was the intimate friend and fellow traveller of the late Sir James Edward Smith, author of the "English Flora."
    In allusion to the various amusements adopted as means of relaxation from the busy turmoil of ordinary life, Dr. Younge has remarked,—"If another source of innocent and interesting relaxation be wanting, the study of Natural History in general, and of the lovely science of Botany in particular, furnishes a delightful variety. I speak this from experience. By these and such like relaxations, free from all moral turpitude, life may be enjoyed; and then man would rarely be found the murmuring animal he often makes himself, from neglecting those innocent pleasures and sources of happiness which are so liberally placed within his reach. Virtue consists not in negative qualities; it is not a system of total abstinence, but of temperate enjoyment. We are gifted with affections, powers, and capabilities; we are to use every thing, and enjoy every thing; but remember, it must be in the right place, and in the right measure, and in the right season."

Floricultural Magazine, (1838)
p. 64: GLOXINIA YOUNGIANA, Mr. Young's Gloxinia.
This is one of the finest Gloxinias we have seen, and for its possession we are indebted to Mr. Barnes, Gardener to George Ward Norman, Esq. Bromley Common, Kent, who kindly presented us with a flower and a leaf; from the latter we have obtained several plants. It would appear that this plant had originated with Mr. Young, of Epsom Nursery, or he had at least been the first to possess a stock of it. Of its origin, we know nothing more that we have stated above. The genus contains several species and numerous varieties of great beauty. They are readily raised from seed, and have a strong tendency to run into varieties; some pretty kinds have been produced in this garden, but nothing equal to the one now under consideration.

p. 160: GLOXINIA MAXIMA, Largest flowered Gloxinia. [Paxton's Mag.
There is a great pleasure manifested in the cultivation of flowers, and particularly the raising of new ones from foreign seeds. Sometimes, however, this is attended with great disappointment. Whereas, the hybridizing of two plants (their qualities being known to the cultivator) generally realizes what may be expected, and affords much amusement to those who bestow the trouble and attention required, in bringing the plants to maturity. It was not until of late years that such a process was attended to; it is an unlimited source for the production of new plants, and it is to be regretted that it is not more generally adopted. The plant under notice is an instance of what may be done by the cross fertilization of one species with another, but it is not confined to two species or varieties of the same genera, for two distinct genera of the same natural order will co-operate in the same way, and form a link between the two genera; this Gloxinia was raised in the nursery of Mr. Young, of Epsom, from impregnation between G. speciosa and G. Candida, partaking of the colour of both, but much larger than either, and is considered sufficiently distinct from any other to warrant the application of a specific name, expressive of the size of its flowers. This plant is identical with Gloxinia Youngiana, and figured in one of the early numbers of the present vol. of the Floricultural Magazine.
[CybeRose note: There is some confusion here. Maxima is clearly different from Youngeana/Youngiana. This becomes important later on when "Maxima" was used for breeding: Gloxinia Fyfiana is an example.]

Paxton's 7 (1840)
It is a common but most mistaken opinion of gardeners and amateurs who devote little attention to botany, that no plants can, by hybridization, be induced to mingle their particular properties, unless belonging to the same genus. The fallacy of this notion is clearly proved in numberless instances, and the more inquisitive culturists are now aware that any two of the majority of plants associated in one Natural Order, will, if impregnated with each other, yield a produce intermediate between the parents, and partaking of both their natures. Still, it must not be imagined that this rule holds good universally; for in no case will it be found to issue in the wished-for results, except where the plants brought into connexion have a manifest affinity of habitude.
    As a convincing example of the possibility of commingling the individual traits of species systematically placed beneath related genera, the superior Sinningia, of which a figure is affixed, may be most aptly adduced. It was originally generated by the impregnation of blossoms of Sinningia velutina, with the pollen from flowers of Gloxinia speciosa. Advantage has thus been taken of a fact too little known, to combine the subshrubby character of the Sinningia with the splendid purple colour of the flowers of a Gloxinia. The circumstance and its consequences are particularly gratifying, and should be carefully treasured in the cultivator's memory, as an excellent resource in similar cases, where the blooms of any otherwise ornamental plant are insignificant.
    Mr. R. Marnock, while curator of the Sheffield Botanic Garden, raised this very showy plant about three years back. Passing from thence to the Botanic Garden at Birmingham, it has since reached Messrs. Loddiges, Hackney, in whose stove we have frequently admired its beauties, and through the kindness of these gentlemen we had the accompanying coloured delineation, as well as the succeeding woodcut, prepared in July 1839. It is a rigid, erect, succulent plant, not exceeding eighteen inches in height, and extremely liberal in its production of blossoms, which, as will be seen from the drawing, are of a large size, and a rich bluish purple hue.
    In a communication obligingly sent us by Mr. D. Cameron, curator of the Birmingham Botanic Garden, it is described as "a very desirable plant, being a free bloomer, and requiring less heat than the genuine species of Sinningia." This latter is an important consideration, and the plant would perhaps thrive in a house of a temperature lower than that generally maintained in the stove. It must be potted in a sandy loam, enriched with leaf-soil, or rotten manure, and be kept in a humid atmosphere, besides being freely syringed, in the growing season. During the winter, drought is essential to subsequent health; but if spare specimens be retained in a constantly high temperature, they will flower through the early winter months, and by this means a novelty may be obtained at the simple cost of a trifling ultimate degeneracy. Such specimens can easily be destroyed when they have served their destined end, and replaced by younger ones.
    An increase must be invariably effected by cuttings, which, though exceedingly juicy, may be struck with tolerable facility, if cautiously preserved from damp. They should be taken off in the spring, and planted in a very sandy soil, with the usual appurtenances of hand-glasses and bottom heat.
    The genus was named by Nees, to commemorate W. Sinning, gardener to the University of Bonn, on the Rhine. Mr. Marnock applied the specific designation in compliment to Dr. Younge, superintendant of the Sheffield Botanic Garden.

Curtis's Botanical Magazine 82: 4954 (1856)
If we were to adopt the strictly scientific nomenclature proposed by Dr. Klotzsch, and approved of by various Continental botanists of eminence, we should be obliged to confer upon this plant the name of Sinningia Ligeria velulina speciosa, so as to show that it is a hybrid between Sinningia velutina, Nees ab Esenb., , and Ligeria speciosa, Dene. (Gloxinia speciosa, Lodd.) ; but as such a name, however well answering the purposes of science, would never become popular, or could never be adopted in bur gardens without causing considerable inconvenience, we have retained the older, though less expressive one. Sinningia Youngiana was raised some years ago by Mr. Marnock, and named by him in compliment to Dr. Young, Superintendent of the Botanic Garden at Sheffield. Apart from the claims upon our attention on account of its ornamental blossoms, it is interesting as being a hybrid between the two most typical species of two different genera, having the thick tuberous rhizome and the tube of the corolla of Ligeria, and the five-winged calyx of Sinningia.

DESCR. Pubescent. Rhizome tuberous, several inches in diameter. Stem herbaceous, erect, purplish, from one foot to eighteen inches high. Leaves opposite, petiolated, oblong or ovate, oblong, crenated, green and glossy above, pale, almost whitish, below. Flowers axillary or terminal, solitary. Peduncle twice or three times the length of the petiole. Calyx five-winged, five-lobed; lobes ovate, acuminate. Corolla with a campanulate tube, and five, almost equal, round lobes, more or less intensely purple or violet, with the exception of the tube, which is a yellowish-white at the base, and at the throat, which is spotted. Ovary surrounded by five subulate glands. Stamens shorter than the tube of the corolla and the style. Stigma two-lipped. Ovules sterile. Berthold Seemann.

L'Horticulture Practicien (1857)
Sinningia Youngiana