David Bowman (botanist)
Encyclopedia
David Bowman was a Scottish
plant collector who, in 1866, was sent by James Veitch & Sons to collect in Brazil
. The species Dieffenbachia
bowmanii is named after him.
near Edinburgh
, where his father worked as a gardener. Bowman started his gardening career working with his father, before working at the gardens at Dalhousie Castle
, Archerfield, and Dunmore Park
, all in Scotland. He later moved to England
to take up a position as foreman in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society
at Chiswick
, west London
.
In 1866, he was recruited by James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea
, who, in a joint venture
with William Wilson Saunders
, sent him to Brazil
to search for orchids and other plants. He travelled initially to Rio de Janeiro
and travelled across the continent to Colombia
. Amongst the plants he discovered and sent to his employers were Dieffenbachia bowmanii and Paullinia thalictrifolia
, a climbing hothouse
plant with fern
-like foliage. He also found two orchids, Odontoglossum crispum
"Alexandrae" and Cyanophyllum bowmanii, which was later awarded a first-class certificate by the RHS's Floral Committee. Whilst in Colombia, he also discovered Miltoniopsis vexillaria
, but was unable to send a specimen back to England.
As well as sending back plants for Veitch, he also obtained material for private collectors in England and for the Royal Horticultural Society. He was preparing to ship a large collection to England from La Paz
when he was attacked, losing most of his finds and as a result was instructed by James Veitch, Jr.
to remain in Colombia in order to re-trace his steps.
Shortly afterwards, he contracted dysentery
which led to his death on 25 June 1868. He was buried in the British cemetery at Bogota
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
plant collector who, in 1866, was sent by James Veitch & Sons to collect in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The species Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia is a genus of tropical plants in the Family Araceae noted for their patterned leaves. Members of this genus are popular as houseplants because of their tolerance for shade. The common name is "dumb cane" due to its poisoning effect on the throat due to raphides...
bowmanii is named after him.
Career
Bowman was born at ArnistonArniston, Midlothian
Arniston is a village in Midlothian, Scotland.-People from Arniston:The plant collector, David Bowman, was born in Arniston in 1838.-References:...
near Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where his father worked as a gardener. Bowman started his gardening career working with his father, before working at the gardens at Dalhousie Castle
Dalhousie Castle
Dalhousie Castle is a castle in Midlothian, Scotland. Dalhousie Castle is situated near the town of Bonnyrigg, 8 miles south of Edinburgh. The castle was the seat of the Earls of Dalhousie, the chieftains of Clan Ramsay.-History:...
, Archerfield, and Dunmore Park
Dunmore Pineapple
The Dunmore Pineapple is a folly said to "rank as the most bizarre building in Scotland." It is situated in Dunmore Park, approximately one kilometre northwest of Airth and the same distance south of Dunmore in the Falkirk council area, Scotland...
, all in Scotland. He later moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to take up a position as foreman in the gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
at Chiswick
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
, west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In 1866, he was recruited by James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, who, in a joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
with William Wilson Saunders
William Wilson Saunders
William Wilson Saunders was a British insurance broker, entomologist and botanist.Saunders was an underwriter at Lloyd's of London...
, sent him to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
to search for orchids and other plants. He travelled initially to Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
and travelled across the continent to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. Amongst the plants he discovered and sent to his employers were Dieffenbachia bowmanii and Paullinia thalictrifolia
Paullinia
Paullinia is a genus of flowering shrubs, small trees and lianas in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, native to tropical South America, Central America and the Caribbean....
, a climbing hothouse
Hothouse
Hothouse or Hot House or Hot house may refer to:* A heated greenhouse* "Hot House" , a jazz standard* Hot House , a 1995 album by musician Bruce Hornsby* Hot House...
plant with fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
-like foliage. He also found two orchids, Odontoglossum crispum
Odontoglossum crispum
Odontoglossum crispum is an epiphytic orchid from the genus Odontoglossum. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful orchid of all but is also one of the most difficult to grow.-Description:O...
"Alexandrae" and Cyanophyllum bowmanii, which was later awarded a first-class certificate by the RHS's Floral Committee. Whilst in Colombia, he also discovered Miltoniopsis vexillaria
Miltoniopsis vexillaria
Miltoniopsis vexillaria is a species of epiphytic orchid in the genus Miltoniopsis.-Description:The plants are pale green and about tall. Inflorescences are about long and carry up to four blossoms. The large, showy flowers are – across...
, but was unable to send a specimen back to England.
As well as sending back plants for Veitch, he also obtained material for private collectors in England and for the Royal Horticultural Society. He was preparing to ship a large collection to England from La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
when he was attacked, losing most of his finds and as a result was instructed by James Veitch, Jr.
James Veitch, Jr.
James Veitch was the third in a long line of horticulturists who established the renowned family business Veitch Nurseries....
to remain in Colombia in order to re-trace his steps.
Shortly afterwards, he contracted dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
which led to his death on 25 June 1868. He was buried in the British cemetery at Bogota
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
.