Item data
Item Type:
Document
From:
Wentworth, Mary Watson-
Sent from:
Hillingdon, Middlesex
To:
Smith, Sir James Edward
Summary:
Sorry that Smith could not view the gardens, conservatory, and greenhouses at Wentworth [Woodhouse, Yorkshire] on account of royal visit expected there, especially as she would have liked Smith's account of the plants there, which were all duplicates of the collection at Wimbledon, [Surrey]; the finest were always sent to Wentworth.
[James] Sowerby visited to draw 'Aralia [capitata]', he also drew life sized 'Pancratium amboinense', sends one of its eight flowers formed like an umbrella, fragrance like 'Cactus grandiflora'. Sends small part of 'Aralia' in full flower; invites Smith and [Richard] Salisbury to see it in person, presumes Salisbury's collection large enough for the plants Smith took for her not to be noticed. Her 'Portlandia' and 'Catesbaea' flowering a second time. [Jonas] Dryander took as yet only flower on the 'Martinia', expects it to be renamed.
Circumference of the umbrella of flowers of the 'Pancratium' is a yard and three-quarters and the bulb is 12 1/2 inches [Salisbury has annotated "probably a variety of 'P. caribaeum'].
Letter date:
18 Sep 1789
Languages:
English
Prev Ref No:
15.15
Additional Information:
Note type | Note |
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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. |