George Don
Encyclopedia
George Don was a Scottish
botanist.
George Don was born at Doo Hillock, Forfar
, Angus
, Scotland
on 29 April 1797. His father, also named George Don, was Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
in 1802 and his mother was Caroline Clementina Stuart. George was the elder brother of David Don
, also a botanist. The younger George Don became foreman of the gardens at Chelsea
in 1816. In 1821 he was sent to Brazil
, the West Indies and Sierra Leone
to collect specimens for the Royal Horticultural Society
. Most of his discoveries were published by Joseph Sabine
, although Don published several new species from Sierra Leone.
Don's main work was his four volume A General System of Gardening and Botany, published between 1832 and 1838 (often referred to as Gen. Hist., an abbreviation of the alternative title: A General History of the Dichlamydeous Plants). He revised the first supplement to Loudon
's Encyclopaedia of Plants, and provided a Linnean
arrangement to Loudon's Hortus Britannicus. He also wrote a monograph on the genus Allium
and a review of Combretum
. He died at Kensington
, London
, on 25 February 1856.
The plant species authored by George Don include:
See also List of Australian plant species authored by George Don.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
botanist.
George Don was born at Doo Hillock, Forfar
Forfar
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh of approximately 13,500 people in Angus, located in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland. Forfar is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1929, when the ancient name was reinstated, and...
, Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
on 29 April 1797. His father, also named George Don, was Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across Scotland — Edinburgh,...
in 1802 and his mother was Caroline Clementina Stuart. George was the elder brother of David Don
David Don
David Don was a Scottish botanist,David Don was born on December 21, 1799, at Doo Hillock, Forfar, Angus, Scotland. He was the younger brother of George Don, also a botanist, their father being George Don of Forfar and his wife Caroline Clementina Stuart...
, also a botanist. The younger George Don became foreman of the gardens at Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
in 1816. In 1821 he was sent to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the West Indies and Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
to collect specimens for the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
. Most of his discoveries were published by Joseph Sabine
Joseph Sabine
Joseph Sabine was an English lawyer, naturalist and writer on horticulture.He was born into a prominent Anglo-Irish family in Tewin, Hertfordshire, the eldest son of Joseph Sabine. His younger brother was Sir Edward Sabine....
, although Don published several new species from Sierra Leone.
Don's main work was his four volume A General System of Gardening and Botany, published between 1832 and 1838 (often referred to as Gen. Hist., an abbreviation of the alternative title: A General History of the Dichlamydeous Plants). He revised the first supplement to Loudon
John Claudius Loudon
John Claudius Loudon was a Scottish botanist, garden and cemetery designer, author and garden magazine editor.-Background:...
's Encyclopaedia of Plants, and provided a Linnean
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
arrangement to Loudon's Hortus Britannicus. He also wrote a monograph on the genus Allium
Allium
Allium is a monocot genus of flowering plants, informally referred to as the onion genus. The generic name Allium is the Latin word for garlic....
and a review of Combretum
Combretum
The bushwillows or combretums, Combretum, make up the type genus of the family Combretaceae. The genus comprises about 370 species of trees and shrubs, roughly 300 of which are native to tropical and southern Africa, about 5 to Madagascar, some 25 to tropical Asia and approximately 40 to tropical...
. He died at Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, on 25 February 1856.
The plant species authored by George Don include:
- Acacia cyclopsAcacia cyclopsAcacia cyclops, commonly known as red-eyed wattle or western coastal wattle, is a coastal shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae...
G.Don
Coastal Wattle - Acacia deltoidea G.Don
- Acacia holosericeaAcacia holosericeaAcacia holosericea, is a shrub native to tropical and inland northern Australia. It is commonly known as Soapbush wattle or Strap Wattle....
G.Don
Candelbra Wattle - Acacia podalyriifoliaAcacia podalyriifoliaAcacia podalyriifolia is a perennial tree which is fast-growing and widely cultivated. It is native to Australia but is also naturalised in Malaysia, Africa, India and South America. Its uses include environmental management and it is also used as an ornamental tree. It is very closely related...
G.Don - Acacia rigensAcacia rigensAcacia rigens, commonly known as Nealie, is an erect or speading shrub or small tree that is endemic to Australia. Other common names include Needle Wattle, Needlebush Acacia, Nealia and Nilyah....
G.Don
Nealie - Catharanthus roseusCatharanthus roseusCatharanthus roseus is a species of Catharanthus native and endemic to Madagascar. Synonyms include Vinca rosea , Ammocallis rosea, and Lochnera rosea; other English names occasionally used include Cape Periwinkle, Rose Periwinkle, Rosy Periwinkle, and "Old-maid".In the wild, it is an endangered...
(L.Carolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
) G.Don
Pink Periwinkle - Daviesia physodes G.Don
- Isotoma scapigera (R.Br.Robert Brown (botanist)Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
) G.Don
Long-scaped Isotome - Lagunaria patersoniaLagunariaLagunaria is a monotypic genus in the family Malvaceae. It is an Australian plant endemic to Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and parts of coastal Queensland. It has been introduced to many parts of the world...
(Andrews) G.Don - Ludwigia hyssopifolia (G.Don) Exell
- Modiola carolinianaModiola carolinianaModiola is a monotypic genus of plants in the mallow family containing the single species Modiola caroliniana, which is known by several common names, including Carolina bristlemallow, babosilla, and redflower mallow...
(L.Carolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
) G.Don - Sagina maritima G.Don
- Sphenotoma squarrosum (R.Br.Robert Brown (botanist)Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
) G.Don - Swainsona formosa (G.Don) Joy Thomps.
- Viola pedatifidaViola pedatifidaViola pedatifida Viola pedatifida Viola pedatifida (Prairie violet, Crow-foot violet, larkspur violet, purple prairie violet, coastal violet; syn. Viola pedatifida subsp. brittoniana (Pollard) L. E. McKinney, Viola pedatifida G. Don subsp. pedatifida, Viola palmata L. var...
G.Don
Prairie violet
See also List of Australian plant species authored by George Don.