Item data
Item Type:
Document
From:
Butt, Thomas
Sent from:
Trentham, Staffordshire
To:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Sent to location:
Norwich, Norfolk
Summary:
As "English Botany" is almost finished asks Smith to reconsider the genus 'Circaea', encloses a specimen from a Yorkshire plant and a 'Circaea alpina'. Through comparison with Linnaeus, [Carl Ludwig] Willdenow, and [William] Withering, believes 'Circaea alpina', 'Circaea intermedia' and 'Circaea lutetiana' are all distinct. Contests the validity of separate genera for 'Potentilla' and 'Tormentilla' when 'Potentilla reptans' and 'Tormentilla reptans' have the same flower. Thinks that 'Geranium lancastriense' and 'Geranium sanguineum' are distinct, his observations. Would like to be introduced to [George] Don's successor. List of rare British plants, hopes for assistance from Smith's friends in acquisition, [some of the names are marked by circles with dots in the middle].
Letter date:
28 Jun 1813
Languages:
English
Prev Ref No:
2.19
Additional Information:
| Note type | Note |
|---|
| Related Material | Smith, J E, Sowerby, J, (1790-1814). "English Botany" London. |
| Finding Aids | Dawson, W R, (1934). "Catalogue of the manuscripts in the Library of The Linnean Society - Part I. The Smith papers: The correspondence and miscellaneous papers of Sir James Edward Smith", London: Linnean Society. |
| Additional | Smith replied 30 Nov [1813] |
