Burchellia
Encyclopedia
Burchellia is a genus
in the family Rubiaceae
, native to the Cape floristic region
of southernmost Africa. It contains a single species, Burchellia bubalina, commonly named the "wild pomegranate" (English) or wildegranaat (Afrikaans). The species is widely cultivated in frost-free gardens as an ornamental tree, and has become a weed in some regions.
A small shrub or tree to 8 metres, the species has red flowers, grey-green bark and dark green leaves.
This name was revised by John Sims in the species' first description in Curtis's Botanical Magazine
in 1822. He gives this account of the earlier taxonomic history:
_burchellia_bubalina.png)
Following the formal description, he wrote as follows:
The name of the genus was given in honour of William John Burchell
, an African explorer.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in the family Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...
, native to the Cape floristic region
Cape floristic region
The Cape Floristic Region is a floristic region located near the southern tip of South Africa. It is the only floristic region of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, and includes only one floristic province, known as the Cape Floristic Province.The Cape Floristic Region, the smallest of the six recognised...
of southernmost Africa. It contains a single species, Burchellia bubalina, commonly named the "wild pomegranate" (English) or wildegranaat (Afrikaans). The species is widely cultivated in frost-free gardens as an ornamental tree, and has become a weed in some regions.
A small shrub or tree to 8 metres, the species has red flowers, grey-green bark and dark green leaves.
This name was revised by John Sims in the species' first description in Curtis's Botanical Magazine
Curtis's Botanical Magazine
The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed, is an illustrated publication which began in 1787. The longest running botanical magazine, it is widely referred to by the subsequent name Curtis's Botanical Magazine....
in 1822. He gives this account of the earlier taxonomic history:
- "In the Supplementum PlantarumSupplementum PlantarumSupplementum Plantarum Systematis Vegetabilium Editionis Decimae Tertiae, Generum Plantarum Editiones Sextae, et Specierum Plantarum Editionis Secundae, commonly abbreviated to Supplementum Plantarum Systematis Vegetabilium or just Supplementum Plantarum, and further abbreviated by botanists to...
of the younger LinnæusCarolus Linnaeus the YoungerCarl Linnaeus the Younger, Carl von Linné or Carolus Linnaeus the Younger was a Swedish naturalist...
this plant was referred to the genus Lonicera, but as it belongs to the natural order of RubiaceaeRubiaceaeThe Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...
it will by no means associate with that genus. PersoonChristian Hendrik PersoonChristiaan Hendrik Persoon was a mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy.-Early life:...
joined it with Swartz's Cephælis, the Tapocomea of Aublet and Bernard de JussieuBernard de JussieuBernard de Jussieu was a French naturalist, younger brother of Antoine de Jussieu.Bernard de Jussieu was born in Lyon...
; but Mr. BrownRobert Brown (botanist)Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
not finding it to accord with any established genus, has considered it as distinct from any, and given it the name of Burchellia in honour of Mr. BurchellWilliam John BurchellWilliam John Burchell was an English explorer, naturalist, traveller, artist and author. He was the son of Matthew Burchell, botanist and owner of Fulham Nursery, nine and a half acres of land adjacent to the gardens of Fulham Palace. Burchell served a botanical apprenticeship at Kew and was...
, a very enterprising traveller in Southern Africa, who has favoured the public with an interesting account of his travels in that country. And, certainly, persons who, in spite of deprivations and difficulties, spend a large portion of their valuable time in such hazardous undertakings, for the promotion of science, merit this only reward of the botanist; but we can by no means approve of altering the specific name, which, when once established, should remain inviolate, except for very particular reasons; we have therefore thought it right to restore the name of bubalina."
- Burchellia bubalina is a native of the Cape of Good HopeCape of Good HopeThe Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
, where it is called Buffelhorn or Buffaloe-Horn, a name given it by the colonists from the extreme hardness of its wood. Flowers in the spring or summer. Requires to be protected from frost and we believe has seldom blossomed in this country without the assistance of the heat of the stove. Communicated by Messrs. Loddiges and SonsLoddigesThe Loddiges family managed one of the most notable of the eighteenth and nineteenth century plant nurseries that traded in and introduced exotic plants, trees, shrubs, ferns, palms and orchids into European gardens....
.
The name of the genus was given in honour of William John Burchell
William John Burchell
William John Burchell was an English explorer, naturalist, traveller, artist and author. He was the son of Matthew Burchell, botanist and owner of Fulham Nursery, nine and a half acres of land adjacent to the gardens of Fulham Palace. Burchell served a botanical apprenticeship at Kew and was...
, an African explorer.