> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 566](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33190037) of TL-2 Vol. IV
> Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/8110-1) LSID 8110-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6254132) QID Q6254132
> Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]]
### Author
Ralfs, John (1807-1890), British botanist; studied medicine in Guy's Hospital, London; med. exam. Apothecaries Hall 1830, College of Surgeons 1832; praticed as a surgeon 1832-1837; settled in Penzance 1837 for health reasons, devoting himself to botany, especially phycology.
**Abbreviated name**: *Ralfs* \[standard form in IPNI: *Ralfs*\]
#### Herbarium and types
[[Collection BM|BM]] (phanerogams at [[Collection K|K]]); other material at [[Collection CGE|CGE]], [[Collection E|E]], [[Collection FH|FH]], [[Collection H|H]], [[Collection K|K]], [[Collection L|L]], [[Collection LD|LD]], [[Collection MANCH|MANCH]], [[Collection OXF|OXF]], [[Collection PC|PC]], [[Collection SLBI|SLBI]].
*Exsiccatae*: *British algae* (ca. 1830), nos. 1-40, sets at [[Collection FH|FH]], [[Collection PC|PC]]. – Manuscript flora of W. Cornwall and Scilly at Penzance library. Letters at [[Collection BM|BM]] and [[Collection K|K]].
#### Bibliography and biography
Barnhart 3: 124 (b. 13 Sep 1807, d. 14 Jul 1890); BB p. 2252; BL 2: 232, 706; BM 4: 1640; Bossert p. 323; Clokie p. 229; CSP 5: 80-81, 12: 597, 18: 36; Desmond p. 509; De Toni 1: ciii, 2: xiii, xciv (bibl.!); DNB 47: 209-210; Frank 3 (Anh.): 81; GR p. 411; Hawksworth p. 24, 137, 198; Herder p. 254; IH 2: (in press); Jackson p. 235, 243; Kew 4: 395; NAF ser.2. 6: 73; NI 1582; Nordstedt p. 26, 35; PR 7406, ed. 1: 8337; Rehder 5: 701; TL-1/1037, TL-2/2455; Tucker 1: 580.
#### Biofile
- Allibone, S.A., Crit. dict. Engl. lit. 2: 1730. 1878.
- Anon., Bot. Centralbl. 44: 96 1890 (d.); Bot. Not. 1891: 46 (d.); Bull. Soc. bot. France 37 (bibl.): 144. 1890 (d.); J. Bot. 28: 256. 1890 (d.), Morot 4: 316. 1890 (d.); J. Hort. Cottage Gard. 21: 71-72. 1890 (obit.); Nat. Nov. 12: 367. 1890 (d.); Nature 42: 300. 1890; Österr. bot. Z. 40: 394. 1890 (d.); Trans. Penzance nat. Hist. Antiq. Soc. 3: 198. 1890/1891 (d.).
- Barone, C., Notarisia 5: 1103-1106. 1890 (obit.).
- Bridson, G.D.R. et al., Nat. hist. mss. res. Brit. Isl. 430 \[index\]. 1980.
- Cupp, E.E., Mar. plankton diatoms W. Coast N. Amer. 220. 1943.
- Davey, F.H., Fl. Cornwall lvii-lviii. 1909 (portr.).
- Debey, J., Bibl. microsc. microgr. Stud. 3. Diat. 1882. p. 46.
- Dickinson, C.I., Phycol. Bull. 1: 13. 1952 (Algal herb. at BM but further algae in herb. Hooker at K \[algae coll. K now on permanent loan to BM\]).
- Freeman, R.B., Brit. nat. hist. books 290. 1980.
- Fryxell, G.A., Beih. Nova Hedw. 35: 363. 1975.
- Groves, H. & J., J. r. microsc. Soc. 1890: 797-799 (obit.); J. Bot. 28: 289-293. 1890 (obit., portr., b. 13 Sep 1807, d. 14 Jul 1890).
- Hedge, I.C. & J.M. Lamond, Index coll. Edinb. herb. 121. 1970.
- J.D., Nuova Notarisia 1: 241-242. 1890 (obit.).
- Kent, D.H., Brit. herb. 74. 1957.
- Koster, J.Th., Taxon 18: 556. 1969.
- Lewis, A.G., John Ralfs, an old Cornish botanist 1907.
- Lousley, E.J., Fl. Isles Scilly 81, 82. 1972.
- Marquand, E.D., Trans. Penzance nat. Hist. antiq. Soc. 3: 225-240. 1891 (obit.).
- Müller, R.H.W. & R. Zaunick, Friedrich Traugott Kützing 243, 292. 1960.
- Murray, G., Hist. coll. BM (NH) 1: 175. 1904 (coll.).
- Nordstedt, C.F.O., Bot. Not. 1906: 97-106, J. Bot. 45: 128. 1907 (proposal to accept Ralfs, Brit. Desmid. 1848, as starting point for the nomenclature of Desmids).
- Sayre, G., Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 19(1): 97. 1969 (exsiccatae).
- Tregelles, G.F., Trans. Penzance nat. Hist. antiq. Soc. 3: 198. 1891 (d.).
- VanLandingham, S.L., Cat. Diat. 4: 2364, 6: 3584. 1978, 7: 4222. 1978.
- Wittrock, V.B., Acta Horti Berg. 3(2): 97, *pl. 34.* 1903 (portr.).
- Wornardt, W.W., Ind. direct. diat. 35. 1968.
#### Composite works
joint editor of A. Pritchard, *History of Infusoria*, ed. 4, 1861.
#### Handwriting
J. Bot. 28: pl. opp. p. 289. 1890.
#### Eponymy
*Ralfsia* O'Meara (1875); *Ralfsia* Berkeley (1843).
### Publications
##### n.8598. The British phanerogamous plants & ferns
**Title**
*The British phanerogamous plants & ferns*; arranged on the Linnaean system, and analyzed after the method of Lamarck, with a short comparative analysis of the natural families... London (Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans) 1839. Oct.
**Abbreviated title**: *Brit. phaenog. pl.*
**Notes**
*Publ*.: 1839 (p. xvi: Jun 1839; J. Bot. (W.J. Hooker) Mai 1840), p. \[i\]-xvi, \[1\]-208.
*Copies*: E, HH, NY.
##### n.8599. The British Desmidieae
**Title**
*The British Desmidieae* by John Ralfs,... the drawings by Edward Jenner,... London (Reeve, Benham, and Reeve,...) 1848. Oct.
**Abbreviated title**: *Brit. Desmid.*
**Notes**
*Publ*.: 1 Jan 1848 (conventional date accepted by ICBN 13.1(h)), p. \[i\]-xxii, \[i\], \[1\]-226, *pl. 1-35* (col. liths. Edward Jenner (1803-1872)). *Copies*: BR, E, FH, G, HH, M, NY, PH, US; IDC 6400. – Starting point for the nomenclature of Desmidiaceae, ICBN 13.1(h). See Nordstedt (1906, 1909).
*Facsimile* ed.: 1962, p. \[i\*-iv\*\], \[i\]-xxii, \[i\], \[1\]-236, \*c\*pl. 1-35 (uncol.). *Copy*: FAS. – Historiae naturalis classica tomus xxviii. Weinheim (J. Cramer) 1962; see Taxon 12: 171. 1963; ISBN 3-7682-0144-9.
*Extract* (German): s.l.n.d., p. \[i\], 1-10 (lithogr. mss.), *pl. 1-35* (uncol.). *Copy*: NY. – "Kurzer Auszug aus John Ralfs British Desmidieae mit Zeichnungen. Für einige Freunde".
*Ref*.: Anon., Gard. Chron. 1848(48): 383 (rev. in issue for 10 Jun 1848).
- J.W.B., Amer. J. Sci. ser. 2. 6: 302-303. Nov 1848.
- Nordstedt, O., Bot. Not. 1906: 97-118 (proposes *Brit. Desmid.* as starting point work); Motion Congr. int. bot. 1909, TL-2/6870.
- Ralfs, J., *in* W.J. Hooker, J. Bot. 5: 12-13. 1846 (announcement, subscription) (see also 7: 392-393. 1848 note on publ.).
- Schlechtendal, D.F.L. von, Bot. Zeit. 6: 708-709. 6 Oct 1848 (rev.).