Field Notes

Field Notes
Plant hunters and collectors have invariably made notes about their collections in the wild – the where, the what and the when – written to accompany each given number and likely species name. These notes then inform either the botanist who receives the herbarium specimen taken at the same time or the collectors themselves when they review their collections on return home. In that way a detailed historic record is formed which can provide invaluable information in the future as knowledge progresses.

Many of the Field Notes produced by our most illustrious collectors in the past were professionally published or reproduced in journals, extending the reach of this data to growers and enthusiasts beyond the original sponsors or the academic establishments which supported plant hunting trips.

In recent times, international guidelines and protocols in force have meant plant hunters today operate in a wholly different environment. Regulated and restricted, their records often go unpublished to the mainstream.

With that situation unlikely to change, for now at least, we can still enjoy and learn from the historic records we have within our grasp and this site will gather as many as possible to be shared freely as a resource for all.

An example of the Field Notes we hold appears below. More will be added as we progress but if there is something particular you are seeking to assist with your research do get in touch.