Feedback request: Listera cordata (27433)

[hallucigenia]

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Specimen #291177

Taxon:	Orchidaceae: Listera cordata (L.) R.Br. ("Lesser Twayblade")
Filed in taxon folder:	Orchidaceae: Listera cordata (L.) R.Br. ("Lesser Twayblade")
Collected by:	Mr George Claridge Druce
Collection date:	7/1878
Locality:	Great Britain, VC89 East Perthshire, Scone Wood, NO12
ex herb:	Mr George Claridge Druce Prof George Stephen West
Institution:	University of Birmingham (BIRM)
Image:
fruits/flowers:	mature flowers
notes:	No vii Edit L.C. 1288

Inferred details are marked.

Documented by hallucigenia on 6^th March 2010.

Specimen #291178

Taxon:	Orchidaceae: Listera cordata (L.) R.Br. ("Lesser Twayblade")
Filed in taxon folder:	Orchidaceae: Listera cordata (L.) R.Br. ("Lesser Twayblade")
Collected by:	George Edward Massee
Collection date:	1880
Locality:	Great Britain, VC62 North-east Yorkshire, Scarborough,Seamer, Seamer Moor
ex herb:	Prof George Stephen West
Institution:	University of Birmingham (BIRM)
fruits/flowers:	mature flowers

Documented by hallucigenia on 6^th March 2010.

Edit history

date	user	change
07/03/2010	hallucigenia	Deleted collector: S E Nuassen
07/03/2010	hallucigenia	Added collector: G E Massee

N.B. reporting of the edit history is currently fairly unclear and misleading. Most edits made to specimens appear as a pair of 'add' and 'delete' entries, which may not be together in the list. There are also often 'minor' edits, which are made automatically (rather than due to user activity), for example to merge synonym names.

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User comments about this sheet

hallucigenia wrote

Collector of second specimen?

[oldnick]

So these old guys were collecting for posterity, eh? Shame about the labels then. At first I thought L E Masser (compare the Ls and Ms on the label); I hunted and the only similar name was G E Massee. I thought, surely not, but he has 2 collections from Scarborough the following year, in Herb West http://herbariaunited.org/sheets/BIRM/11751.jpg
I think the handwriting may be W West snr.

[David Price]

Massee had an early interest in natural history, publishing an article on British woodpeckers at the age of 16 and compiling a portfolio of botanical paintings. Through the influence of Richard Spruce, a family relative, he was able to travel on a botanical expedition to Panama and Ecuador, where, despite considerable hardships, he collected orchids and other plants.

On his return, Massee joined the French Foreign Legion, hoping to see combat in the Franco-Prussian War, but, the war being almost over, he was prevailed upon to return home to the farm. He had nonetheless gained a "4th Chasseurs" tattoo on his arm as a result of his brief military adventure.

Beatrix Potter, whose mycological interests he encouraged, called him "a very pleasant kind gentleman."

George Edward Massee - read more on Wikipedia!

[hallucigenia]

Collecting for posterity, Now there's an amusing joke.
What interesting lives these people led makes 9 till 5 quite boring!
Thanks to you both.
Chris