Two Botanists in the Highlands
I have the record of two botanists who visited the Highlands, one in the 18th century, and the other in the late19th/early 20th century. Let me confess straight away that I know very little about the subject, but in their own way, these are two important archives.
Indeed, that of the Reverend John Lightfoot is of huge importance, for it is one of the earliest and most comprehensive records of Scottish Flora. Lightfoot was a member of the party assembled by Thomas Pennant that visited the Highlands in 1772. Lightfoot's Flora Scotica: or, A Systematic Arrangement, in the Linnaean Method, of the Native Plants of Scotland and the Hebrides was privately published in 1777.
The title page (one of two) of my copy, 2nd edition, of John Lightfoot's "Flora Scotica". First published in 1777, this example in 1789.
The book, which was issued in two volumes, contains a number of b&w engravings, some of which are fold-out.
The engravings were drawn by Moses Griffiths, who was also in the party, and engraved some fine views for Pennant's account. They were engraved by P. Mazell.
The record of what Lightfoot found is comprehensive, running to 1151 pages. Included are not only flowers, ferns, etc., but also Lichen and Fungi. I gather that the record contains the first British record of Chanterelle mushrooms....
Pages referring to the Chanterelle fungi in Lightfoot's Flora Scotica.
.....and the summer truffle.
Entries relating to truffles in Lightfoot's Flora Scotica.
In addition, there is a 66-page appendix listing quadrupeds, birds and fish they found in the region. There are a number of bird illustrations, drawn and engraved by the same team.
Pennant's party failed to reach the far north coast: they struggled on "shoeless little steeds" as far as Ledbeg in Assynt, where they obtained "quarters and rough hospitality from a gigantic and awful landlady." They were advised that , during the season in which they were travelling, "the way was impassable for horses." So Lightfoot doesn't record that most charming and rare Sutherland native, Primula Scotica.
Primula Scotica, from "Alpine Plants" by David Wooster, 1874.
Nevertheless, Lightfoot's catalogue is a seminal work in the inventory of botanical literature.
The other botanist whose record I have offers I think a more modest collection. It is housed in two albums, consisting of a few photographs, and a large number of dried specimens, all labelled. I believe he was working towards a degree in the subject - there is a photograph of him plus another in academic dress.
Photograph from a botanical album.
Who is he? The only clue is an envelope containing a specimen, with a name on it in pencil, but this is hard to read:
Is this the album's owner? Mr Fred Dorbel, or maybe Porbel or Parbel?
It seems as if he at least visited Ross-shire, as one of the pages is titled "Ross-shire Flora." Whether he hails from there I do not know.
"Ross-shire Flora", a page from a Botanical Album.
I imagine a botanist would be interested in what the albums contain. I have photographed a few pages, and can provide more should anyone be interested - please contact me (greywings89@gmail.com).
Those of us more ignorant of botanical matters can enjoy the photos of our botanist and his peers out in the field, with their collecting tins....
Two photos might give a further clue as to where this botanist was studying. My Ross-shire contacts cannot identify either of these sites. If anyone recognises them, do please contact me (greywings89@gmail.com).
