George Maxwell (1804–1880) was a professional collector of plants and insects in Southwest Australia. The botanical specimens he obtained were used to make formal descriptions of the region's plant species.
Biographyedit
He was born in England in 1804 and moved to Western Australia in 1840 to settle at King George Sound, remaining there until his death at Middleton Beach in 1880. Maxwell occupied himself a number of activities, selling curios and offering to guide visitors to the port.[1] He began collecting plants and insects of the region, assisting the botanist James Drummond in 1846. The collections he made, in the company of Drummond and Ferdinand von Mueller, would provide type specimens for the publication of scientific descriptions. Maxwell's collections are now preserved in Australian herbarium, his contribution to the botanical knowledge of the region and Flora Australiensis was noted by Mueller in the Gardeners' Chronicle;
Only two years ago I made long journeys with him over rough country for several days on horseback to collect plants and seeds. More than 30 years ago he conducted Drummond through the Stirling Ranges in the journey that proved so memorable in the discovery of many splendid plants. He was nearly always in the bush, and engaged in collecting seeds, botanical and entomological specimens. Encouraged by myself, he undertook several extensive journeys over then untrodden ground, eastward as far as the Great Bight, and thus found many new plants and enabled us to extend the known limits of the range of many rare species, as recorded in the Flora Australiensis.[2]
The expedition with Drummond began in the Stirling Ranges in 1846, continuing on to Cape Riche and Mount Barren. The specimens obtained on their journey became known as Drummond's fourth collection, many of which are referenced in published descriptions of the region's species.[3]
Maxwell is thought to have been partnered with William Webb, who continued the trade in specimens after his death.[4]
The following species were named by Mueller and Jeremy Bentham in recognition of this collector:
^R.L. Heberle. "George Maxwell 1805-1879. Botanical Collector and Naturalist". History of Orchid Collecting in South Western Australia, 1791 - 1971. The Species Orchid Society of Western Australia (Inc). Retrieved 2008-03-05.
^A.E.Orchard (13 November 2007). "Maxwell, George (1804 - 1880)". Collectors & Illustrators. Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG). Retrieved 2008-03-04. Mueller to Gard. Chron., 3 April, I880, p. 433
^Short, P.S. (1990). "Politics and the purchase of private herbaria by the national Herbarium of Victoria". History of systematic botany in Australasia : proceedings of a symposium held at the University of Melbourne, 25-27 May 1988. Melbourne: Australian Systematic Botany Society. p. 196. ISBN073168463X.
Further readingedit
A. E. Orchard (1999) A History of Systematic Botany in Australia, in Flora of Australia Vol.1, 2nd ed., ABRS.
Maiden, J. H. (1909) Records of Western Australian Botanists. Journal of the West Australian Natural History Society. 2(6):5-33
David Morrison, Alex George (2004) Plate 492. Lechenaultia acutiloba Goodeniaceae Curtis's Botanical Magazine 21 (2), 111–113
January 01, 1970
george, maxwell, other, people, named, disambiguation, 1804, 1880, professional, collector, plants, insects, southwest, australia, botanical, specimens, obtained, were, used, make, formal, descriptions, region, plant, species, biography, edithe, born, england,. For other people named George Maxwell see George Maxwell disambiguation George Maxwell 1804 1880 was a professional collector of plants and insects in Southwest Australia The botanical specimens he obtained were used to make formal descriptions of the region s plant species Biography editHe was born in England in 1804 and moved to Western Australia in 1840 to settle at King George Sound remaining there until his death at Middleton Beach in 1880 Maxwell occupied himself a number of activities selling curios and offering to guide visitors to the port 1 He began collecting plants and insects of the region assisting the botanist James Drummond in 1846 The collections he made in the company of Drummond and Ferdinand von Mueller would provide type specimens for the publication of scientific descriptions Maxwell s collections are now preserved in Australian herbarium his contribution to the botanical knowledge of the region and Flora Australiensis was noted by Mueller in the Gardeners Chronicle Only two years ago I made long journeys with him over rough country for several days on horseback to collect plants and seeds More than 30 years ago he conducted Drummond through the Stirling Ranges in the journey that proved so memorable in the discovery of many splendid plants He was nearly always in the bush and engaged in collecting seeds botanical and entomological specimens Encouraged by myself he undertook several extensive journeys over then untrodden ground eastward as far as the Great Bight and thus found many new plants and enabled us to extend the known limits of the range of many rare species as recorded in the Flora Australiensis 2 The expedition with Drummond began in the Stirling Ranges in 1846 continuing on to Cape Riche and Mount Barren The specimens obtained on their journey became known as Drummond s fourth collection many of which are referenced in published descriptions of the region s species 3 Maxwell is thought to have been partnered with William Webb who continued the trade in specimens after his death 4 The following species were named by Mueller and Jeremy Bentham in recognition of this collector Eriostemon maxwelli Genosiris maxwelli transferred to Patersonia maxwellii Lasiopetalum maxwellii Phymatocarpus maxwellii Pimelea maxwelli Pimelea brevifolia subsp brevifolia Poa maxwelli Poa serpentum References edit R L Heberle George Maxwell 1805 1879 Botanical Collector and Naturalist History of Orchid Collecting in South Western Australia 1791 1971 The Species Orchid Society of Western Australia Inc Retrieved 2008 03 05 A E Orchard 13 November 2007 Maxwell George 1804 1880 Collectors amp Illustrators Australian National Botanic Gardens ANBG Retrieved 2008 03 04 Mueller to Gard Chron 3 April I880 p 433 Erickson Rica 1966 Drummond James 1787 1863 Australian Dictionary of Biography National Centre of Biography Australian National University ISSN 1833 7538 Retrieved 2008 03 05 Short P S 1990 Politics and the purchase of private herbaria by the national Herbarium of Victoria History of systematic botany in Australasia proceedings of a symposium held at the University of Melbourne 25 27 May 1988 Melbourne Australian Systematic Botany Society p 196 ISBN 073168463X Further reading editA E Orchard 1999 A History of Systematic Botany in Australia in Flora of Australia Vol 1 2nd ed ABRS Maiden J H 1909 Records of Western Australian Botanists Journal of the West Australian Natural History Society 2 6 5 33 David Morrison Alex George 2004 Plate 492 Lechenaultia acutiloba Goodeniaceae Curtis s Botanical Magazine 21 2 111 113 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Maxwell amp oldid 1082998961, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
