'Descriptions of plants from various parts of the world' (219 leaves)

Component identifier:

File 32

Content Summary:

This is a transcript of some of Solander's descriptions of plants contained in his Manuscript Slip Catalogue. Marshall (1978) has identified the handwriting as that of Herman Diedrich Sporing. Sporing accompanied Banks and Solander as secretary on Cook's first voyage. The transcript includes Solander's descriptions of plants contained in various Horti Sicci in the Sloane Herbarium. From South Africa the collections of Desmarets and Kiggelaer are included, and from North America the collections of Bartram, Catesby, Ellis, Garden, Jones and Vernon. Solander's determination labels for the plants described are in the various Horti Sicci mentioned - Marshall noticed that many of the slips in Solander's catalogue that describe plants contained in the Sloane Herbarium have a symbol that looks like the capital letter L occurring about halfway down the left hand side. He considers that the descriptions on these marked slips are those that have been copied out by Sporing. The transcript also includes short diagnoses copied from contemporary publications such as Plukenet's Opera Omnia Botanica and the 1753 and 1762-63 editions of Linnaeus's Species Plantarum.

The last four pages are a modern index in another hand. The rectos are largely blank.

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M2548

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