> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 385](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33258863) of TL-2 Suppl. VIII > Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/3387-1) LSID 3387-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11705310) QID Q11705310 > Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]] > [!example] See also [[Griffith, William|first entry]] for this author ### Author \* Griffith, William (1810-1845), British colonial physician, botanist and "man of genius" (*teste* Sir George King), born 4 Mar 1810 in Ham (Surrey), studied under J. Lindley and graduated from London Univ., went to Madras in 1832 as asst. surgeon, in Assam with N. Wallich 1835-1836, in Bhutan 1837-1838, Afghanistan 1839-1841 and Malacca (now Malaysia) in mid-1841, Superindendent, Calcutta Botanic Gardens 1842-1843, returned to Malacca where he died 9 Feb 1845 of an abscess of the liver (malaria & hepatitis?). **Abbreviated name**: *Griff.* \[standard form in IPNI: *Griff.*\] #### Herbarium and types Griffith contributed greatly to the herb. of the East India Company. His herb. was originally given to [[Collection LINN|LINN]] (*fide* Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 8: 632. 1850), but later transfered to [[Collection K|K]]; for duplicates (important sets at [[Collection BM|BM]], [[Collection BR|BR]], [[Collection CAL|CAL]], [[Collection MPU|MPU]]) see IH 2: 240 (and add [[Collection PC|PC]]) and Lamond (1970). – Mss., journals and corr. at Kew, the British Library (London) and the Linnean Society of London. #### Bibliography and biography AG 2(2): 386; APN p. 242; Backer p. 244, 651; Baillon 2: 743; Barnhart 2: 86; BB p. 131-132; Biol.-Dokum. 7: 85.918-85.920; Blunt p. 224, ed. 2: 261; BM 2: 735-736; BN p. 175; Bossert p. 153; Bretschneider p. 359-360; Clokie p. 174; CSP 3: 18-19, 12: 293; Desmond p. 270-271, ed. 2: 299-300; DNB 8: 685-684, 23: 240, 981-983. 2004; DSB 5: 539-540; Ewan Pap. p. 84; Herder p. 453 (index); Hist. coll. BMNH p. 152; Hortus 3: 1194; IF p. 700; IF suppl. 4: 354; IH 2: 240; Jackson p. 553 (index); Kew List p. 28; Lasègue p. 569 (index); MW p. 143; NAF ser. 2(9): 122; NI 2: 72; Portr. 3: 507; PR ed. 1: 3883-3887, ed. 2: 3565-3571; Rehder 5(index): 342-343; RS p. 85; SBC p. 121; SK 1: 201-202, 4(2): cxvi, 5: cclxxxi, 8: xxxix; TL-1: 183; TL-2/1: 1005-1006, indices 2/4, 2/6; Tucker 1: 301-302, 2: xviii; Urban-Berl. p. 300, 351; Wagenitz p. 65; Zander ed. 10: 665, ed. 11: 757, ed. 17: 950. #### Biofile - Anon. \[?\], Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 6: 294-306. 1845; Flora 28: 431-432. 1845; Proc. Linn. Soc. London 1: 239-244. 1845; Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 3: 392. 1845; Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 4: 159-160. 1846. - Bridson, G.D.R. et al., 1980. Nat. hist. manuscript resources British Isles: 405. (index) - Brunet, J.-Ch., 1861 \[1966 reprint\]. Manuel du libraire et de l'amateur de livres 2: 1739. - Burkill, I.H., 1965. Chapt. Hist. Bot. India: 59, 239. (index) - Candolle, A.L., 1880. Phytographie: 416. - Coats, A.M, 1969. The Plant Hunters: 153-154, 388. - Cribbs, P. et al., 2001. *In*, P. Pathak et al., Orchids: science and commerce (Dehra Dun): 29-33. (n.v.) - Daniels, G.S. & F.A. Stafleu, 1973. Taxon 22: 424. (portr.) - Desmond, R., 1992. European discovery Indian flora: 346. (index) - Hedge, I.C. & J.M. Lamond (eds.), 1970. Index collectors Edinburgh Herb.: 86. - Hertel, H. & A. Schreiber, 1988. Mitt. Bot. Staatssamml. München 26: 158, 199, 215, 291, 319. - Hooker, W.J., 1845. London J. Bot. 4: 371-375 (biogr.); 1848, Id. 7: 446-449. \[on posthumous papers\] - \[Hooker, W.J.\], 1850. Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 2: 352. \[notice of posthumous papers\] - \[Hooker, W.J.\], 1865. Catalogue of the plants distributed at the Royal Gardens, Kew... from the herbaria of Griffith, Falconer, and Helfer, \[London\] (Printed by J.E. Taylor): iv, 58 p. (n.v.) - Huxley, L., 1918. Life letters Hooker 2: 537. (index) - King, G., 1899. J. Bot. 37: 460-461. \["a man of genius"\] - Lamond, J.M., 1970. Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 30: 159-175. (Afghan collections) - Lang, W.H., 1911. Gard. Chron. III, 48: 232. - Lang, W.H., 1913. *In*, F.W. Oliver, 1913. Makers Brit. Bot.: 178-191. (portr.) - Long, D.G., 1979. Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 37: 355-379. (Bhutan itin.) - M'Clelland, J., 1845. J. Agric. Hort. Soc. India 4: 1-39. (bibl. of 25 works) - Mears, J.A., 1981. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 133: 151. - Milner, J.D., 1906. Cat. Portr. Kew: 55. - Nelson, E.C., 1980. Glasra 4: 48. (specimens at DBN) - P\[lanchon\]., J.E., 1849. Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 5: 535b-535d. (portr.) - Riddick, J.F., 1998. Who was who in British India: 154. - Ridley, H.N., 1922. Fl. Malay Pen.: xv-xvi. - Steinberg, C., 1977. Webbia 32: 26. (specimens at FI) - Stewart, R.R., 1984. Taxon 33: 50-51. - Wynne, O.E., 1969. Biogr. key-names birds of the world: 82. #### Note As was noted by W.J. Hooker (London J. Bot. 7: 446-449. 1848), after Griffith's death in 1845 at age 35 his unpublished mss. were published by John M'Clelland (1805-1883, see TL-2/3: 214). Most of these posthumous papers (often criticized) were treated earlier (see TL-2/1, nrs. 2166-2170). In recent years, however, some of them have been reprinted and/ or issued in microform, viz.: - (1) \[Posthumous papers bequeathed to the Honourable The East India Company...\] *J. trav.*... 1847-1848, see TL-2/1, nr. 2166 (*J. trav.*=vol. 1) and 2168 (*Itin. pl. Khasyah mts.*=vol. 2): \[*Reprint* of selections...\]: 1865, Eden, Sir Ashley, *Political missions to Bootan*... *with Dr. W. Griffith's Journal*... Calcutta (Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Office): 1 lf., xi, 137, xi, 206 p., map (fold., in pocket). *Copy*: LC (n.v.). *Reprinted*:... New Delhi (Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers), xi, 137, xi, 206 p., map. *Copy*: LC (n.v.). \[*Reprint* of Chapters XI, XII, and XIII\]: \[1974?\]... Griffith, Wm., *Bhutan*, 1837-1838... New Delhi (Skylark Printers): 197-312, *2 pl*. *Copy*: LC (n.v.). *Facsimile* ed.: 2001,... New Delhi (Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers), xxxii, 529 p. *Copy*: LC (n.v.). - (2) \[Id....\] *Not. pl. asiat.*... 1847-1854 (TL-2/1, nr. 2167): *Microfiche*: Zug, Switzerland (Inter Documentation Company), \[19–\], 34 microfiches, 9×12 cm. *Copy*: LC (n.v.). *Reprint*: 1976,... Dehra Dun (M/S Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh), 4 vols. *Copy*: US. - (3) \[Id....\] *Ic. pl. asiat.*... 1847-1854, 4 vols. (TL-2/1, nr. 2169): Reprint: 1976,... Dehra Dun (M/S Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh), 4 vols. *Copy*: US. - (4) \[Id....\] *Palms Brit. E. Ind.*... 1850 (TL-2/1, nr. 2170) has been reprinted and now is available in microfiche: *Reprint*: \[1977\],... Delhi (Periodical Experts Book Agency), p. \[i\]-xvi, \[1\]-182, \[xvii\]-xxviii, \[140\] lvs. of pl. *Copies*: LC (n.v.), MO (n.v.), US. *Microfiche*: \[s.l.\] (IDC), 1984, 9 microfiches. *Copy*: (n.v.). *N.B.*: The last line in TL-2/1, nr. 2170 should be corrected to read: "Griffith, Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 5: 1-180 \[not 183\], 311-355, 445-491. 1845". #### Composite works - (1) In 1843, Griffith reprinted W. Jack, *Descriptions of Malayan plants* ... 1820-1822 (TL-2/2, nr. 3216). - (2) Griffith edited: (a) "The cryptogamous plants of Dr. Roxburgh..." 1844, which is part of W. Roxburgh, *Fl. ind. ed. 1832* (TL-2/4, nr. 9725); and (b) J.O. Voigt, *Hort. suburb. Calcutt.*... 1845 (TL-2/6, nr. 16.329). ### Publications ##### n.37.191. new genus **Title** On a *new genus* of *Scrophularinae*... Madras... 1836. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Oct 1836, p. \[1\]-5, *pl. 1* (uncol. lith.). *Copy*: K. – Reprinted and to be cited from Madras J. Lit. Sci. 4: 373-377, *pl. 1.* 1836. *Note: Synphyllium* Griff. (1836) (Scrophulariaceae), see ING 3: 1715. 1979. ##### n.37.192. Description **Title** *Description* of some *grasses* which form part of the vegetation in the *Jheels* of the district of *Sylhet*... Madras... 1836. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Sep 1836, p. \[570\]-575, *pl. 23-24* (uncol., fold. lith.). *Copies*: BM, K. – Reprinted and to be cited from J. Asiat. Soc. 5: 570-575, *pl. 23-24.* 1836. ##### n.37.193. family **Title** On the *family* of *Rhizophoreae*... Extracted from the Transactions... Medical... Physical Society of Calcutta... 1836. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1836, p. \[1\]-12, *pl*. \[*1*\] (fold.). *Copies*: BM, K. – Reprinted and to be cited from Trans. Med. Phys. Soc. Calcutta 8: 1-12, *pl. 1.* 1836. ##### n.37.194. Description **Title** *Description* of *two genera* of the family *Hamamelideæ*, two *species* of *Podostemon* and one species of *Kaulfussia*... \[Calcutta\] 1836. Qu. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1836, p. 94-115, *pl*. *13-16* (uncol. lith.). *Copy*: K. – Extracted from Asiatic Res. 19: 94-115, *pl*. *13-16*. 1836. *Note: Bucklandia* R. Br. ex Griff. (1836), non Sternb. (1825), see ING 1245. 1979; and *Sedgwickia* Wall. ex Griff. (1836), non Bowdich (1825), see ING 3: 1596. 1979. ##### n.37.195. Report **Title** *Report* on the *tea plant* of *Upper Assam*... Calcutta... 1838. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1838, p. \[1\]-85, *pl. A & C* (uncol., fold. lith.), 3 maps (uncol., fold.). *Copies*: G, HH (n.v.), K. *Microfilm*: Atlanta, Georgia (SOLINET), 1994, 1 reel (35 mm) (SOLINET/ ASERL Cooperative Microfilming Project (NEH PS-20317)). *Copy*: (n.v.). – Extracted from Trans. Agric. Hort. Soc. India 5: 94-180, *pl. A & C*, 3 maps. 1838 (n.v.). *Note*: Copies \[at G and K\] are annotated and signed by Wm. Griffith: "The great number of errata in this report is due to its having appeared in the Transactions of the Agricultural Society of Calcutta". ##### n.37.196. Muscologia Itineris Assamici **Title** *Muscologia Itineris Assamici*; or; a Description of Mosses, collected during the Journey of the Assam Deputation, in the years 1835 and 1836... \[Calcutta (Bishop's College Press)\] 1842\[-1843?\]. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1842\[-1843?\] (read 6 Mar 1838), p. \[1\]-50, \[1\]-21, \[1\]-12, *pl. 16-18. Copies*: FH (n.v), K (all 3 pl. missing), NY (photocopy) (n.v.). – Reprinted and to be cited from Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 2(8): 465-514 \[Jan?\], 3(9): 56-75 \[Apr\], 3(10): 270-282, *pl. 16-18, 20* \[*pl. 20* missing in reprint of journal\] \[Jul\]. 1842 \[1843?\]. *Microfiche* \[of journal, not reprint\]: Tumba, Sweden (International Documentation Centre), \[19–\], 2 microfiches, 9×12 cm. *Copy*: US. *Electronic version* (pdf) \[journal, p. 465-514, 270-282, no plates!\]: MA (as "Biblioteca Digital"). *Note*: (1) In the journal, a footnote on p. 465 states that this paper was written in 1836 and read before the "Linnæan Society in March, 1838". (2) The microfiche (cited above) has the plate captions, but not the plates. *Note*: The following are among the dozen or so papers that came out after Griffith's death in early 1845, the last appearing in 1859! ##### n.37.197. account **Title** Some *account* of the *botanical collection* brought from the eastward by Dr. *Cantor* ... \[Calcutta\]... s.d. \[1844-1845\]. Qu. **Abbreviated title**: *Account bot. coll. Cantor*. **Notes** *Collector*: Cantor, Theodore Edward (M.D.) (1809-1854), see IH 2: 115 (d. "1860"). *Publ*. \[*Qu. ed.*\]: late 1844-early 1845 \[sometimes miscited as 1837\], p. 33-65, *pl. 1-4* (uncol. lith.). *Copies*: BR (n.v.), HH(2) (without pl., 1 copy imperfect), K. – Preprinted and evidently intended to be included in Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 21, which was never published (see note). *Note* (1): Thanks to investigations by Rosemary Davies (K) and Gea Zijlstra (U) it is apparent that this quarto edition was preprinted, with the intention of the article eventually appearing in vol. 21 of the Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. These preprints are independent of the 1854 edition, which was published (in octavo) by J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal (see below). (2) Lending further support to the idea that the quarto is an independent preprint is a statement in the octavo edition of the paper, viz. "The following paper has been printed for several years and was intended to form part of an interesting communication by Dr. Cantor on the Natural History of Chusan which was to lead off Vol. XXI of the Asiatic Researches. This publication having been, for the present at all events, discontinued, Dr. Griffith's valuable memoir on Chusan Botany has been reprinted and now is published with the four plates which accompanied it. – Ed." (J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 23: 623. 1854). (3) Cantor's earlier communication was "General features of Chusan with remarks on the flora and fauna of that Island" (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 9(58): 265-278, (59): 361-370, (60): 481-493. 1842), in which he acknowledges Griffith for plant identifications. \[*Oct. ed.*\]: 1854 \[sometimes miscited as 1837\], p. 623-650, *pl. 1-4* (uncol. double lith.). *Copies*: no reprint seen. – Issued and to be cited from J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 23: 623-650, *pl. 1-4.* 1854. ##### n.37.198. Azolla **Title** On *Azolla* and *Salvinia*... Calcutta... 1846. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1846, p. \[1\]-47, *pl. 15-20* (double pl.). *Copies*: FH (n.v.), K, NY (n.v.), WU. – Reprinted and to be cited from Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 5: 227-273, *pl. 15-20.* 1846. ##### n.37.199. Indian species **Title** On the *Indian species* of *Balanophora*, *and* on a *new genus* of the family *Balanophoreæ*... Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. (Bot.)... 1844 \[i.e. 1846\]. Qu. **Notes** *Publ*.: 29 Aug 1846 (*fide* Raphael, Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 2(1): 68. Mar 1970, read 18 Jun 1844), p. 93-108, *pl*. *3-8* (uncol. lith. from draw. by auth.). *Copies*: HH, K (n.v.). *Micro-opaque*: New York (Readex Microprint), 1977, 1 micro-opaque, 23×15 cm (Landmarks II). *Copy*: (n.v.). – Reprinted and to be cited from Trans. Linn. Soc. London 20(1): 93-108, *pl*. *3-8*. 1844 \[i.e. 1846\]. ##### n.37.200. Ambrosinia ciliata **Title** On the *Ambrosinia ciliata* of *Roxburgh*... London (R. Taylor) 1851 \[i.e. 1847\]. Qu. **Notes** *Publ*.: 11 Dec 1847 (*fide* Raphael, Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 2(1): 68. Mar 1970, read 4 Nov 1845), p. 263-276, *pl. 10-12* (uncol. lith. from draw. by auth.). *Copies*: BM (in serial), HH (detached?). *Micro-opaque*: New York (Readex Microprint), 1977, 2 micro-opaques, 23×15 cm (Landmarks II). *Copy*: (n.v.). – Reprinted (detached?) and to be cited from Trans. Linn. Soc. London 20(2): 263-276, *pl. 10-12.* 1851 \[i.e. 1847\]. *Note*: "Communicated by R.H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. &c., &c.", viz. Solly, Richard Horsman (1778-1850), English botanist, see Desmond, ed. 2: 642.