Plant hunting in Macaronesia by Francis Masson: the plants sent to Linnaeus and Linnaeus filius

Abstract

Francis Masson was the first official plant collector of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Between 1776 and 1779 he undertook extensive plant collecting on the Macaronesian archipelagos of Madeira, the Azores and the Canaries. This field trip marked a major milestone in the plant exploration of the region, with material collected by Masson resulting in the description of over 118 species by famous plant taxonomists or naturalists such as Linnaeus filius, William Aiton, Leopold von Buch, Nicolaus J. Jacquin, Charles-Louis L'Héritier and Johann H. F. Link. During Masson's visit to these islands, he sent letters accompanying three shipments of plant material to Linnaeus and Linnaeus filius. We believe that this was the only correspondence ever received from Macaronesia by the distinguished Swedish naturalists. In order to contribute to the worldwide celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of Linnaeus, we undertook an investigation into the nature and significance of these shipments. We found that this plant material was the basis for 37 descriptions provided by Linnaeus filius. Our study showed that a total of 21 and 61 herbarium specimens were sent to Linnaeus and Linnaeus filius, respectively. In addition, 53 accessions of seeds were sent to Linnaeus the younger. Identification of plant material was carried out after studying Masson's collections and the relevant taxonomic literature.

873. Echium Nervosum

“…Between 1776 and 1779 the great Scottish plant collector Francis Masson (1741–1805) undertook a single major expedition to the Macaronesian islands that was commissioned by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Francisco‐Ortega et al ., ). This was the first large and extensive plant hunting endeavour conducted in these islands by any botanical institution.…”

Lectotypification of the Linnaean name <em>Bosea yervamora</em> (Amaranthaceae)

“…In the Clifford Herbarium at BM there are three sheets as-sociated with the number "84" in the protologue (synonym cited by Linnaeus, 1738) -Ortega & al., 2008). On the basis of the date of collection, and the fact that this exsiccatum was sent to Linnaeus filius by F. Masson, and it is part of the Mosson's "Plantae Canariense" (see Francisco-Ortega & al., 2012: 404, 411), this exsiccatum were never seen by Linnaeus father, and it is not part of the original material.…”

Contribution to the flora of the Selvagens archipelago (Portugal) (I)

“…Francis Masson (1741Masson ( -1805, an earlier collector on Madeira archipelago, may have been the first botanist to travel to the Selvagens. As emphasized by Francisco-Ortega et al (2008) some of Masson's Madeiran collections were sent to Linnaeus filius, who further studied and described them (Linnaeus, 1781). Significantly, Linnaeus filius (1781) included Selvagens on the distribution range of Crithmum latifolium L.f. [≡ Astydamia latifolia (L.f.) Baill.]…”