Angiosperms

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Taxonomy

Code

Scope note(s)

  • flowering plants, the largest and most diverse group within the kingdom Plantae. Angiosperms represent approximately 80 percent of all the known green plants now living.

  • The angiosperms are vascular seed plants in which the ovule (egg) is fertilized and develops into a seed in an enclosed hollow ovary.

Source note(s)

Display note(s)

    Equivalent terms

    Angiosperms

    • UF Flowering plants

    Associated terms

    Angiosperms

      72 Archival description results for Angiosperms

      Monograph on Figs
      GB 235 FIG · File · 1847

      •Monograph on Figs - draft M/S from I.B.B.'s papers.
      •M/S Catalogue of Artocarpeae – L’Herbier Boissier Received with Monograph on Figs in “Balfour, I.B. papers” , filed under “Boissier, P.E.”
      •Letter dated 14 March 1847 to G. A. Walker-Arnott filed under “Miquel, A. W.” (Miquel, F. Anton Wilhelm) in main index

      Balfour, Sir Isaac Bayley
      GB 235 MIQ · File · 1847

      •Letter (12 handwritten pages on 4 sheets) to George Arnott Walker Arnott, regarding Ficus, dated 14 March 1847
      •4 separate autograph notes on Ficus / Figs

      Miquel, Friedrich Anton Wilhelm
      GB 235 FRG/1/1/1/1905/66 · Item · 13/12/1905
      Part of George Forrest Collection

      Letter from George Litton, Consulate, Tengyueh, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 13 December 1905.
      It should be noted that the catalogue descriptions, summaries and letters contain sensitive subjects and Litton’s language, spellings and attitudes which may be deemed offensive now.
      Litton writes to report that he and Forrest have just returned from exploration of the Upper Salween ‘a complete terra incognita; he is a bit done up with the somewhat severe fatigues of the journey and I have insisted on his taking a complete rest for some weeks…’ Owing to poor weather they had to keep mainly to lower levels, 4,000-5,000 feet but Forrest collected a good number of plants, though drying was almost impossible. ‘We found a most lovely mauve climbing gentian trailing over the hills in glorious clusters. Unluckily we were too early for seeds, but I have a wild man of those parts out to get them for me & Forrest…’ On Forrest’s wish to return to the Mekong divide and other plateaux at 10,000-13,000 feet near there, ‘In my opinion there is no reason why he should not try. The rebellion of the lamas has been most mercilessly drowned in blood by the Chinese and I do not think a single lama will show his shaven pate in those parts for some time to come. Ergo the country is likely to be more quiet now than it ever has been. But Chinese officials are obstructive and always like to keep foreigners out of a country if they can find any excuse to do so; while (between ourselves) many of H.M. officials are not very energetic about assisting travellers into the wilds. I would like to tell you that it would probably be of very great assistance to Forrest if you could write to the Foreign Office stating the interest which you as a man of science have in his work & asking that every support & assistance may be given to him by H.M. Consuls in carrying it out, now that you hear that the country has been pacified. But on no account mention my name in connection with what you say.’ Litton adds that he is trying to obtain some indemnity from the mandarins for Forrest’s losses and sufferings and that the French missionaries have returned to their missions on the Mekong.
      Plant referenced: Gentian
      The letter has been fire damaged with some loss, though not of text, and the pages are close to separating; handle with extreme care.

      Litton, George
      GB 235 FRG/1/1/1/1905/4 · Item · 21/02/1905
      Part of George Forrest Collection

      Letter from George Forrest, The Consulate General, Yunnan-fu [Kunming], S.W. China, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper' Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 21 February 1905.
      Forrest writes to say he has returned disappointed from his trip south as it was the wrong time of year for seeds and plants. He asks Professor Balfour to send out seeds of flowers requested by Consul-General Wilkinson for the garden of the new consulate outside Yunnanfu. Thanks Balfour for his letter of 26 October 1904 naming the saxifrages. Forrest leaves for Dali tomorrow.
      Plants referenced: Gentian; Saxifrage
      Letter is very slightly fire damaged and marked with red ink.

      Forrest, George
      GB 235 FRG/1/1/1/1905/15 · Item · 27/05/1905
      Part of George Forrest Collection

      Letter from George Forrest, Tsekou [Cigu], SE Tibet, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 27 May 1905.
      Forrest writes to say he left Tali [Dali] on 11 April; he provides details of an arduous journey to Tsekou, having his first row with the Chinese in Chien Chuan and an uncomfortable evening conversing with the Yamen. There are difficulties with muleteers at Wei Hsi pass and the loss of a mule which fell 90 or 100 feet, breaking its back and smashing its load of two cases; Forrest was rescued by Lissoos who helped him continue his journey to Wei Hsi Ting. Forrest meets with Pere Bourdonnec of the Catholic Tibetan Mission who warned him that rebel lamas were only three days north of Tsekou. Against his advice Forrest continued to Tsekou, arriving on 28 [April] to news of ‘over 10,000 lamas on the warpath. Of these, 5,000 are at Batang where they have murdered the Chinese amban and a great number of Chinese soldiers. Also the French missionary stationed there, Pere Mussot by name. They destroyed the mission and killed a great number of native Christians, driving the remainder into the hills, where many have perished of exposure and hunger.’ Forrest describes raids on Atuntze, Yarragong and Yerkolo, the death of Pere Soulie and anticipates a battle between the lamas and Chinese troops. Lack of food is the main difficulty in Tsekou; there is a description of the rations, including a curious dish of stewed ferns using the species of common bracken Pteris aquilina:
      'One curious dish they have here, and one of which I was very dubious at first, but which now I have got to like immensely is 'stewed ferns'. These are cooked in water with the addition of a little fat. The species used is the common bracken 'Pteris aquilina' which grows abundantly on all the mountains here above a certain elevation. The part used is the young stem and frond just as they are expanding when they are 3-6 inches high. These are boiled for some time in water to extract the bitter principle of the plant and then cooked as I have described. Another dish, but one which I have not yet partaken of, but which I am informed is equally good is composed of the male inflorescence of 'Pinus sylvestris' prepared in a similar manner.'
      Forrest is making slow progress with his collecting owing to bad weather, but almost 300 species have already been collected; there are descriptions of forests of rhododendrons and a fine example of Magnolia campbellii.
      Plants referenced: Magnolia; Pine; Pteris aquilina; Rhododendron
      Letter has been scorched with some loss. Letter has been damaged, particularly page 1, apparently by a plant specimen enclosed in the envelope with the letter.

      Forrest, George
      GB 235 FRG/1/1/1/1905/18 · Item · 03/07/1905
      Part of George Forrest Collection

      Letter from George Forrest, Tsekou [Cigu], S.E. Tibet, to Isaac Bayley Balfour M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 03 July 1905.
      Forrest writes to thank Balfour for the twenty volumes of the Linnaean Journal and for the seeds for the Consul General at Yunnanfu. Collecting has been hampered by trouble with the lamas and bad weather, but Forrest hopes to make up for lost time and secure twelve or fifteen hundred species. Forrest intends to leave for the U.K. around the end of December, subject to Mr Bulley’s approval: ‘I gather that he wishes me to remain out here for another year or so, but I do not think I shall consent, at least not at the present rate of payment.’ Although Forrest likes the work he would prefer collecting botanical specimens alone, rather than seeds.
      The situation with the lamas remains dangerous: ‘Owing to the stupidity of the official who was sent north to Atuntze, the lamas of that place, and Yarragong in Yangtze valley have been allowed to escape and scatter in all directions. They have great influence over the people and as they are inciting them to rebellion we fear much trouble in the near future.’
      Forrest describes an orchid growing on cliffs in the valley around Tsekou and two species of rubus, of which he encloses small scraps.
      Forrest warns that Pere Monbeig is intending to write to Balfour to see if Balfour will buy specimens from him, reassuring Balfour that he has nothing to do with this.
      Plants referenced: Gentian; Orchid; Rubus; Saxifrage
      Letter has been scorched and there is slight damage, likely from a plant specimen inserted in the letter.

      Forrest, George
      GB 235 FRG/1/1/1/1905/20 · Item · 13/07/1905
      Part of George Forrest Collection

      Letter from George Forrest, Tsekou, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, M.D., 'Regius Keeper', Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, dated 13 July 1905.
      Forrest writes to say he is pleased to learn that he has discovered one or two new species. Forrest describes where he collected new species of parnassia. He has just returned from a week in the valleys of the Mekong-Salween divide, with favourable results, although the higher peaks and passes were inaccessible owing to heavy snow. There were a surprising number of species in flower, some forcing their way through the snow. Forrest describes plants and habitats of meconopsis integrifolia, corydalis, rhododendrons, primulas and lilium: ‘If I am not the first to send home seed of this species [meconopsis integrifolia], I hope to be the first to send home photos of it taken in situ…’
      Regarding the trouble with the lamas, Forrest states: ‘… we have had bad news this week again. The report is that the Chinese have been defeated once more but I cannot vouch for the truth of this.’ ... ‘I am now well on in my sixth hundred of species over six hundred sheets. Got a big rise last week. Three more species of orchidaceae.’
      Forrest describes and sketches a peculiar kind of fern [p.12] and sketches a new primula with pendulous flowers [p.8].
      Plants referenced: Aspideum; Fern; Fritillaria; Corydalis; Lilium; Meconopsis; Nephrodium; Orchidaceae; Parnassia; Pine; Primula; Prunus; Rhododendron; Saxifrage
      Letter has been fire damaged with some loss, including text. The letter has also been damaged, presumably by a plant specimen inserted in the envelope.

      Forrest, George