On the Trail of Rheedean Specimens

Abstract

Van Rheede is known to have sent to Europe many dried specimens of the plants described by him in Hortus Malabaricus. These Rheedean specimens are of valuable historical importance and taxonomic significance but these herbarium specimens have never been traced despite repeated attempts by many botanists in various countries at various times. Recently a short report in Russian, by Karaveav published in 1976 in a Russian publication which had not attracted much attention earlier, came to the notice of the author, in which it was claimed that a part of the Rheedean specimens is in the Moscow University Herbarium. After a critical study of these herbarium sheets in Moscow, it is reported here that they can not be related with Rheedean herbarium specimens of Hortus Malabaricus.