Hooker, Sir Joseph Dalton
JHC598
The Camp, Sunningdale, Berkshire, United Kingdom
JDH/1/9 f.743
Stapf, Otto
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
10-2-1909
© Descendants of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
Letters to Otto Stapf
The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
English
Original MS
3 page letter over 1 folio
 

JDH returns the New York Herbarium bundle of Impatiens to Otto Stapf. He says that there are 6 species, 1 of which is totally different from the ones in Elmer Merrill's collection. He has completed the diagnoses of the Phillipines species, 20 in total. It was a hard job & only 2 were previously known. The numbering has confused JDH as it is under different headings. There is a table to illustrate this. JDH still has to describe them in detail and then intercalate them with the other Malay examples. He says that all have pedicellate inflorescence & uniform stamens, apart from one. JDH says that Stapf and the Director should take some of the remaining copies of his paper from the ARCHIVES and the ICONES, should they wish. He says a lot of periodicals go with the New York Balsams. He is now to start work on the Indo-Chinese specimens and thanks Stapf for sending part of FLORA GENERALE DE INDO CHINE, and asks if he may keep it until he understands the plants a little more. He says that he will be able to manage with it written in French.

Transcript

New York Balsams.
I must now get to work at the Indo Chinese -- Many thanks for sending the part of "Flora generale de Indo Chine". -- May I keep it till I get my hand in upon the species I have to describe, I see it must be in French which I can manage.
Ever sincerely y[our]s | Jos.D.Hooker[signature]

Page 1


Feb[ruar]y 10 1909
*1aTHE CAMP,
NEAR SUNNINGDALE.
My dear Stapf*1
I am returning the New York Herb[ariu]m bundle of Impatiens for transmission:-- it contains only 6 species one of which is totally different from any in Merrill's*2 collection.
I have completed the diagnoses (Clavis) of the Philippine species, making 20 in all. -- They are very difficult & have been a great labor, only 2 have been previously known.
The numbering has perplexed me as I mentioned before, your suggestion will not work, for the numbering is under different headings, as follows t[urn].o[ver].

Page 2

Herb[arium]. Government Laboratories [1deleted word, illeg.] by numbers " Bureau of Science -------------------------------------------- 15 " Philippine Exposition Board 1 " " Normal School 1 " San Fernando Schools 1 " Exploration of Philippines 3 " Loher ------------------------------------------------------------ 5 " Vidal ------------------------------------------------------------- 2
I have still to describe them in detail & then intercalate them with the other Malay Archipelago species a perplexing task.
Except for one species all have simply pedicellate inflorescence & uniform stamens.
I stupidly never thought of asking whether the Director & you would care for copies of the my paper in the "Archives" & "Icones", if you do please help yourself from the remaining copies. I am writing to the Director.
A lot of periodicals go with the

Page 3

New York Balsams.
I must now get to work at the Indo Chinese -- Many thanks for sending the part of "Flora generale de Indo Chine". -- May I keep it till I get my hand in upon the species I have to describe, I see it must be in French which I can manage.
Ever sincerely y[our]s | Jos.D.Hooker[signature]

ENDNOTES


1a. TELEGRAMS, WINDLESHAM, is printed on the left-hand side of the notepaper. Underneath there is an annotation that reads: 'rec[ei]pt 12.ii.-- H 336/09'
1. Otto Stapf (1857--1933). Austrian botanist and taxonomist, the son of Joseph Stapf, who worked in the Hallstatt salt-mines. He published the archaeological plant remains from the Late Bronze and Iron Age mines that had been uncovered by his father. Stapf moved to Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1890. He was keeper of the Herbarium from 1909 to 1920 and became British citizen in 1905. He was awarded the Linnean Medal in 1927. In 1908 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
2. Elmer Drew Merrill (1876-- 956). American botanist, specializing in the flora of the Asia-Pacific region.

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