From:
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
To:
George Bentham
Date:
?-3-1846
Source of text:
JDH/2/3/2 f.24-25, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Summary:
No summary available.
Contributor:
Hooker Project
Showing 21–36 of 36 items
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This is a four page letter over 1 folio.
A one page letter on one folio.
3 page letter over 1 folio
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JDH apologises for not writing to George Bentham sooner. Letter concerns the geographical distribution & habits of Leguminosae [Fabaceae] in Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania]. Refers to [Ronald Campbell] Gunn's collections. Discusses Tasmania Acacias: silver wattle, which he identifies as Acacia mollisima [actually A. dealbata] found on Mt Wellington, black wattle A. decurrens, A. verticillata & a sub alpine species from the Derwent falls. Acacia are most abundant genus after Eucalyptus but do not grow high in the mountains, on the plains species incl.: A. stricta & A. myrtifolia growing with Daviesias, Bossiceas, Platylobia, Indigofera australis & various Compositae & Epacrideae which he does not name. Discusses Legumes of New Zealand: Edwardsia [now Sophora], Carmichaelia, new species found by Bidwell & [William] Colenso, & the rare Cilanthus puniceus. Knows nothing about Guilandina bonduc. Legumes are not part of the Antarctic Flora not being found on sub Antarctic islands, though over 300 flowering specimens do occur in those islands. Describes the Kerguelen's Land flora as having commonalities with South America, the Aucklands & Falklands & lists the genera that occur. Lists peculiar Kerguelen's Land plants incl. the Kerguelen Cabbage & notes the profusion of ferns, mosses, lichens & seaweeds. Macrocystis pyrifera is the only true Antarctic plant, found south from 64 degrees latitude in open sea. Compares the botany of the Auckland Group with that of S. America, New Zealand, Antarctica & Tasmania. The relative proportions of Monocotyledons, especially Gramineae [grasses] to Dicotyledons indicates the severity of climate in these regions & in the Prince Edward & Crozets group, the South Georgias, South Shetlands & Antarctic. In the Falklands JDH has found species not described by De Candolle, Durvile or Gaudichard. Notes some of the musci he has collected incl. Guinardia australis, the remarkable profusion of ferns & a new Hydroctyli of the order Umbellifera.
JDH thanks George Bentham for writing to him. The geography of plants is one of JDH's favourite subjects. JDH shares his observation that Leguminosae & Labiatae are completely un-represented in the flora of the Antarctic regions, which are far from barren. Scrophularinae by comparison are prominent. One such conspicuous genus in the Auckland Islands is Veronica, he describes the presence of a arborescent species, a sp. known as 'Sodjer Plant', & a blue flowered sp. he calls 'the most Antarctic'. In the Bay of Islands, New Zealand the Veronica are fruticose. V. decussata is common in Fuegia & Hermite Island & is the largest tree in the Falkland Islands, JDH describes its habit in each location. One of the only flowers JDH has seen in the Falklands is the indigenous Calceolaria fothergilli, also Gaudichaud's V. serpyllifolia. On Kerguelen Island there is a Limosellla which grows under ice & water similar to L. tenuifolia. Refers to Bentham moving to Herefordhsire, also his contribution to JOURNAL OF BOTANY. JDH recalls De Candolle asking why he was going to 'barren' Antarctica, JDH does not regret it but the plants he has collected have been hard won. His collections are strongest in Cryptogamia. Mentions the death of De Candolle senior & whether his son will continue his work. JDH praises Endlicher's work at Vienna & Lindley's ELEMENTS OF BOTANY, a more thoroughly illustrated manual would be useful to JDH who is slow at identifying plants. JDH would like to spend some time at home before botanizing in the tropics as Bentham suggests. Next the expedition cruises south again, then goes to the Cape of Good Hope & Rio de Janeiro. Speculates on what he will do once home; will work in his Father's herbarium & then travel again, maybe to the Society & Sandwich Islands [Hawaii] or the Himalayas. Mentions the Niger expedition, asks if Hind's plants from the New Hebrides [Vanuatu] are similar to Australian flora. Requests Bentham propose him for membership of the Athenaeum.
JDH thanks George Bentham for taking over from [Jules Émile] 'Citoyen' Planchon on Niger Flora. At Darjeeling JDH enjoys assistance from Brian Houghton Hodgson[BHH] & Müller; the latter is a Calcutta [Kolkata] Mint accountant. Pending approval from the Rajah JDH will travel more. JDH describes his daily routine whilst travelling & collecting with his Lepcha assistants, also describes his camp, challenges of difficult terrain, the scenery & his curiosity about the old roads. You cannot stray from the road as in the Alps & Andes. Bhutan & Upper Assam are closed to travellers & the low areas are unhealthy. JDH describes an unknown Sonneratia tree & mentions new Michelia & Cucurbitacea. JDH has published papers for the Asiatic Society. He wants to study the geography & natural history of eastern Himalaya as it has been ignored except by BHH. Botanically it can be divided into tropical, temperate & arctic areas. He describes the vegetation in Sikkim province: the area bounded by Kinchin [Kanchenjunga] & Teesta River, & compares it to that of Bhutan & Nepal. The description discusses: tropical jungle, conifers, Taxus, Pinus longifoli, P.deodara, P.pindrow, P.excelsa, P.smithiana, wild Cupressus, Brunonia, larch, palms, Cycas, Pandanus, Cruciferae, Ranunculus, Saxifraga, Primula, Oak, Magnolia, Lauri, Abies brunoniana, A. webbiana, Rhododendron, dwarf Juniper, tropical genera at unusual heights, pepper, Ficus, Calamus, Licualia, Wallichia, India-rubber fig, lack of open sward & European genera, pine forests, lack of legumes except Parochetus, Erythrina & different elevations at which characteristic vegetation appears. JDH discusses the climate of Sikkim & its influencing factors: the South East Monsoons & the Khasya & Behar Hills. Enmann’s Travels make JDH want to see Siberia & Chinese Tartary [Soongaria]. JDH also mentions: Edgeworth; Falconer going to Moulmein; Thompson, the deputy opium examiner at Patna; Crawford; Winterbotham in Tibet, Wallich & an Irish lady.