Who was Parkinson?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
August 15, 2003
Plant Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |
History Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading—>Click here.
Killer Smart Store Links—>Click here.
According to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, the common name, breadfruit, first appeared in print in the English language in 1697. In most European languages, the fruit is called by names which have the same meaning: in Dutch, broodvrucht; in French, fruit a pain; in Portuguese, fruta pao, and in Spanish, fruta de pan. It is said when the fruit is roasted and pulled from the coals, it looks like a loaf of bread.
In August 1768, Joseph Banks and party boarded the HMS Endeavor joining Captain James Cook's first voyage of exploration. Banks hired two artists to record their discoveries, Sydney C. Parkinson to do the botanical renderings and Alexander Buchan to paint the scenes. Parkinson and Buchan became close friends. Buchan died in Tahiti and Parkinson undertook the work of two artists. ("The Endeavor", Captain Cook Society)
Among the 280 completed paintings and 900 drawings, Parkinson illustrated, described, and named the breadfruit, Sitodium altile, from the Greek, sitos meaning food and altilis, rich, nourishing. ("Artocarpus altilis", w3Tropicos Nomenclatural Data Base, Missouri Botanical Garden)
Parkinson died at age 26 of a fever on the return to England. The botanical name, Sitodium altile, was published two years later. Other than his fabulous paintings and illustrations, Parkinson almost passed out of history.
By the time the name was published, Cook's second voyage was underway. This time there were two ships, the HMS Resolution and the Adventure. Aboard were a father and son team of botanists, Johann Reinhold Forster and J. Georg Adam Forster. They established the genus Artocarpus building the name from the Greek, artos, bread, and karpos, fruit. ("The Resolution", Captain Cook Society)
One hundred and seventy years would pass. Breadfruit would receive 14 botanical names in the intervening years. In 1941, F. Raymond Fosberg realized Parkinson's original name had validity and restored the species epithet. The plant became Artocarpus altilis--breadfruit, rich and nourishing.
Plant of the Week 08/11/2003
|
|
|
Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg)
Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg) is a broad-leafed evergreen native to the Malay Archipelago. Considered a highly ornamental tree, breadfruit grows up to 20 meters (~60 feet) tall with wide-spreading branches. It has pinnately lobed leaves up to 60 centimeters (24 inches) in length.
Plant of the Week 08/11/2003
|
PlantExplorers has a wonderful biography of the almost forgotten Sydney Parkinson. To learn more about his work and Captain Cook's first voyage, click on the link:
http://www.plantexplorers.com/explorers/botanical-artists/sydney-parkinson.htm
PlantExplorers.com is a great website. Use the navigation at the top and take some time to peruse this website.
Plant Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 | | 4 |
History Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg Plant of the Week - August 11, 2003
What is 'ulu? Herbal Folklore - August 11, 2003
What was William's mission? Plants that Changed History - August 12, 2003
How are breadfruit propagated? Weird Plants - August 14, 2003
Who was Parkinson? What's in a Name? - August 15, 2003
Why ghosts gather at breadfruit trees Herbal Folklore - August 18, 2003
Paradise, breadfruit, and mutiny Plants that Changed History - August 19, 2003
Killer Savings Links:
AETV homepage—>Click here.
The History Channel—>Click here.
Discovery Channel Store—>Click here.
Museum Store Company—>Click here.
The NASA Space Store—>Click here.
National Geographic—>Click here
NOVICA—>Click here.
You DON’T have to be a “serious sailor” to enjoy all the pleasures of sailing!
Sea Eagle Inflatable Boats®
Sailboats of the same size and class as the SailCat cost $12,000 and more — a justifiable price, perhaps, for those deeply dedicated to sailing. But what about those who want to try out sailing…or who sail infrequently…or who otherwise can’t justify the expense of an ordinary sailboat?
At 1/6 the price of comparable sailboats, the SailCat is an extraordinary value for the casual, first-time, or family sailor. It’s an easy purchase to justify — not just because the price is low but because you get more for your money than with any hard-hull boat: all the fun of sailing with extra quality, convenience, portability, and warranty protection. Plus, the SailCat comes 100% complete with twin 14 ft. hulls, bench seats, 45 sq. ft. of sail, lateen rigging, two nylon carry bags, repair kit, and foot pump.
Click here to view the SailCat and to learn more.
|
BACK TO TOP
