How did some pea flowers of Anglesea and Aireys get their names?
The plant family FABACEA derives its name from the Latin; Faba=bean. The name Fabian means bean-grower. Here are the names of seven local plant genera in the family. Several are what we as children called ‘egg and bacon’ flowers, for the mixed brown and yellow flowers.
One must remember, plant hunting across the globe was almost a cult in the 18-19th centuries and many officials of plant societies sought recognition in being named after species and genera.
Page references are to ‘Flowers of Anglesea and Aireys Inlet’ (2009 edition) for full descriptions of each plant.
Showy Bossiaea, Bossiaea cinerea (pp110-111)
This genus was named in honour of aristocratic Frenchman, Joseph de Bossieu de la Martiniere (1785-1788), who was the medical officer on La Perouse’s ill-fated voyage to Australia and the Pacific. He managed to post back many reports, and animal and plant specimens new to science to France, on a visit to Botany Bay, before disappearing with the expedition in the Pacific. The species name derives from Latin, cinereus=ashen or grey.
Showy Bossiaea
Narrow–leaf Bitter-pea, Daviesia leptophylla (pp110-111)
The genus honours Hugh Davies, Welsh cleric and botanist (1739-1821), who assisted William Hudson, author of the definitive, Flora Anglica. He lived for some time in Anglesey, Wales and donated his extensive herbarium collection of Welsh plants to the British Museum. The species name derives from Greek, Leptos=thin, Phylla=leaf.
Narrow-leaf Bitter-pea
Smooth Parrot-Pea, Dillwynia glaberrima, (pp112-113)
The genus honours Welsh, Quaker, naturalist, wealthy porcelain manufacturer and Whig politician, Lewis Weston Dillwyn (1778-1855). He was elected to the Royal Society in 1804 and published books on botany and conchology (study of mollusc shells). The species name derives from Latin, glabrous=shiny or devoid of hair.
Golden Tip, Goodia lotifolia, (pp112-113)
This genus honours Peter Good, English horticulturalist and prolific plant collector, who was assistant to the official botanist, Robert Brown, while on the Investigator expedition to ‘Terra Australis’ with Matthew Flinders. Good contracted dysentery in Batavia when Flinders called in for ship repairs and he died (1802) aged 37 years on board the ship in Sydney Harbour. The species name derives from Latin, Lotus=Lotus plant, folia=foliage, referring to the broad, lotus-like foliage of the plant.
Golden Tip
Large-leaf Bush-Pea, Pultenaea daphnoides (pp118-119)
The genus honours English physician and botanist Richard Pulteney (1730-1801), who was an avid promoter of the Linnaean Taxonomy for plant classification. He authored the first English language biography of Carl Linnaeus. The species name is derived from the Greek nymph Daphne, associated with water, and gives her name to a plant genus in the old-world, species of which are predominantly found near streams and have strong perfumes, hence daphnoides=like Daphne.
Hop Goodenia, Goodenia ovata (pp114-115)
The genus honours English cleric, teacher and botanist Samuel Goodenough (1743-1827), Bishop of Carlisle and influential vice president of the Royal Society, when Sir Joseph Banks was president. The species name from Latin- ovata=oval (leaf).
Running postman, Kennedia prostrata (pp124-125)
The genus honours 18th century Scottish/English nurseryman, John Kennedy, renowned for growing plants using the Linnaean taxonomy. He had a nursery in Hammersmith, London and was frequent contributor to the first five volumes (1799–1803) of The Botanist’s Repository, a bible of new-world discovered plants. Kennedy was a key grower of Australian plants for Kew Gardens. The species derives from Latin prostrata=low or prostrate, the habit of the plant.
Running Postman
Neville Millen