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A VIGNETTE OF BOTANY IN THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT: THE STORY OF CATESBY'S CLIMBER OR THE CAROLINA KIDNEY BEAN TREE, WISTERIA FRUTESCENS
Author(s) -
Compton James A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
curtis's botanical magazine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1467-8748
pISSN - 1355-4905
DOI - 10.1111/curt.12111
Subject(s) - key (lock) , biology , botany , geography , ecology
Summary The history of Wisteria frutescens ( L. ) Poir. is discussed, with particular reference to those associated with its discovery in South Carolina, its transmission to Europe, and its initial cultivation in England and the Dutch Republic. A brief appraisal is given of those natural historians associated with the species in the interconnected worlds of medicine, botany, botanical art and horticulture in the early 18th century whose efforts enabled the Carolina kidney bean tree to be discovered, described and distributed. A description of Wisteria frutescens, with a key to the two varieties, is provided. A lectotype is chosen for the name Glycine frutescens var. magnifica Hérincq and neotypes are selected for the names Diplonyx elegans Raf. and Thyrsanthus floridana Croom.