> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 122](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33212164) of TL-2 Vol. VI > Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/10341-1) LSID 10341-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2003356) QID Q2003356 > Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]] ### Author Sweet, Robert (1783-1835), British horticulturist, botanist and ornithologist; nurseryman at Stockwell 1810-1815, Fulham 1815-1819, Chelsea 1819-1826. **Abbreviated name**: *Sweet* \[standard form in IPNI: *Sweet*\] #### Herbarium and types Cultivated plants at [[Collection CGE|CGE]] and [[Collection MW|MW]]. – *Letters* at [[Collection G|G]] and [[Collection K|K]]. – The 56 original water-colours by E.D. Smith for S.'s *Flora australasica* are at [[Collection BM|BM]]. #### Bibliography and biography Backer p. 662; Barnhart 3: 352 (d. 20 Jan 1835); BB p. 294; BM 5: 2059, 2281; Bret. p. 282; Desmond p. 595; DNB 55: 197 (19: 197); DU 292-296; Frank 3 (Anh.): 102; GR p. 77; Herder p. 151, 230, 327, 337, 366; Hortus 3: 1205; HU 2(1): cc; Jackson p. 128, 132, 234, 398, 407, 413; Langman p. 728; Lasègue p. 530; Lenley p. 470; MW p. 477-478; NI 1922-1927; Plesch p. 420; PR 9074-9082, 9450, ed. 1: 10019-10026, 10419; Rehder 5: 832; RS p. 144; SO add. 832b, c, d, 812a; Sotheby 728-731; TL-1/1286-1289; TL-2/2493, 2742, see G. Don Jr., F.W. Smith; Tucker 1: 675, 3: 300; Zander ed. 10, p. 722, ed. 11, p. 824. #### Biofile - Airy-Shaw, H.K., J. Bot. 75: 192-195, 304. 1937 (on new names publ. anon. by R. Sweet in "The news of literature and fashion"). - Allibone, S.A., Grit. dict. Engl. lit. 2: 2310. 1878. - Anon., Brit. Mus. gen. cat. print. books 233: 369-370. 1964; Hort. J. 3: 79. 1835 (obit.); Mag. nat. Hist. 1835: 410 (d.); The trial of Robert Sweet, at the Old Bailey, before Mr. Justice Best. Upon a charge alleged against him, for feloniously receiving a box, containing plants, stolen from the Royal gardens at Kew. London, typ. Nichols 1824. Oct. 31 p. (fide PR). - Bridson, G.D.R. et al., Nat. hist. mss. res. Brit. Isl. 229.461. 1980. - Dickison, D.J., Vict. Natural. 71: 56-57. 1954. - Faden, R.B., Taxon 34: 295-296. 1985 (overlooked combinations by S. in the Commelinaceae). - Fletcher, H.R., Story R. Hort. Soc. 137-138. 1968. - Fussell, G.E., J. Land Agent's Soc. 1949: 187-189 ("the man who may have robbed Kew Gardens"). - Hall, N., Bot. Eucalypts 126. 1978. - Maiden, J.H., J. Proc. R. Soc. N.S.W. 42: 125. 1908. - Schultes, J.A., Flora 8(1), Beil. 1: 46. 1825 (visit to Sweet; "zu geheimnissvoll für einen Priester der Flora..."). - Stearn, W.T., Taxon 10: 238. 1961 (Sweet's Hort. suburb. Lond. by Jul 1818). - White, A. & B. L. Sloane, The Stapelieae ed. 2. 96, 410, 508, 1050, 1051, 1878 passim. 1937. #### Composite works See L. Trattinick, *Neue Arten von Pelargonien* deutschen Ursprungs. 1825-1843, 6 vols. "Beitrag zu Robert Sweet's Geraniaceen". #### Eponymy *Sweetia* A.P de Candolle (1825, *nom. rej.*). *Note*: *Sweetia* K.P.J. Sprengel (1825, *nom. cons.*) probably honors Robert Sweet as does the derived *Sweetiopsis* R. Chodat et E. Hassler (1904). X *Sweetara* G.W. Dillon (1969) was named for the American orchidologist, H.R. Sweet. ### Publications ##### n.13.542. Hortus suburbanus Londinensis **Title** *Hortus suburbanus Londinensis*; or, a catalogue of plants cultivated in the neighbourhood of London; arranged according to the Linnean system: with the addition of the natural orders to which they belong, references to books where they are described, their native places of growth, when introduced, time of flowering, and reference to figures... London (printed for James Ridgway...) 1818. Oct. (in 4-s). **Abbreviated title**: *Hort. suburb. Lond.* **Notes** *Publ*.: Jun-Jul 1818 (TL-1; JGLE Aug 1818), p. \[iii\]-xi, \[xii\], \[1\]-242. *Copies*: B-S, G, HH, MO, NY(2), U; IDC 5759. – Rev. K.P.J. Sprengel, Neue Entd. 2: 222-223. 1821. ##### n.13.543. Geraniaceae **Title** *Geraniaceae*. The natural order of Gerania, illustrated by coloured figures and descriptions; comprising the numerous and beautiful mule-varieties cultivated in the gardens of Great Britain, with directions for their treatment... London (printed for James Ridgway,...) 1820-1830, 5 vols. Oct. (in 4-s). **Abbreviated title**: *Geraniaceae*. **Notes** *1*: 1 Jan 1820-1 Jan 1822 (dates on plates), p. \[i\]-ix, *pl. 1-100* with 2 p. text each, index \[1-4\], err. \[1\]. – Issued in monthly parts with 4 plates per month (*1-48*: 1820, *49-96*: 1821, *97-100*: 1822). *2*: 1 Feb 1822-1 Feb 1824 (dates on plates), p. \[i\]-iii, *pl. 101-200* with text, index \[1-8\]. – Issued id. (*101-144*: 1822, *145-192*: 1823, *192-200*: 1824). *3*: 1 Mar 1824-1 Mar 1826 (dates on plates), p. \[i\]-iii, *201-300* with text, index \[1-10\]. – Issued id. (*201-240*: 1824, *241-286*: 1825, *287-300*: 1826). *4*: 1 Apr 1826-1 Apr 1828 (dates on plates), p. \[i-ii\], *pl. 301-400* with text, index \[1-12\]. – Issued id. (*301-336*: 1826, *337-384*: 1827, *385-400*: 1828). *5* (*suppl.*): 1 Jul 1828-1 Jul 1830 (dates on plates), p. \[i-ii\], *pl. 1-100*, with text, index \[1-4\]. – Issued somewhat irregularly (*1-24*: 1828, *25-72*: 1829, *73-100*: 1830). *Copies*: B, B-G, BR, G, HH, NY, U; IDC 5056. *Plates*: handcoloured copper engr. by E.D. Smith, and (a few) by M. Hart. ##### n.13.544. The botanical cultivator **Title** *The botanical cultivator*, or, instructions for the management and propagation of the plants cultivated in hothouses, greenhouses and borders, in the gardens of Great Britain. **Abbreviated title**: *Bot. cult.* **Notes** *Ed*. \[*1*\]: 1821, n.v. *Ed. 2*: 1825, p. \[i-iii\], \[1\]-574. *Copy*: G. "The hot-house and greenhouse manual, or botanical cultivator;..." London (James Ridgway,...) 1825. *Ed. 3*: 1826, p. \[i-iv\], \[1\]-574. *Copy*: NY. *Ed*. 5: 1831, p. \[i-iv\], \[1\]-714. *Copy*: HU. *Ed. 6*: 1839, p. \[i-iv\], \[1\]-762. *Copy*: NY. ##### n.13.545. The British flower garden **Title** *The British flower garden*, containing coloured figures and descriptions of the most ornamental and curious hardy flowering plants, including annuals, biennials, perennials and flowering shrubs; with their scientific and english names; best method of cultivation and propagation... London (James Ridgway & Sons,...) \[1823-\] 1837, 7 vols. **Abbreviated title**: *Brit. fl. gard.* **Notes** *1*: 1 Mar 1823-1 Mar 1825 (in parts, plates dated), p. \[i\], *pl. 1-100* with text (handcol. copp. by E.D. Smith), \[1-2, bibl.\], \[1-2, index\], \[1, err.\]. *2*: 1 Jun 1825-Apr 1827, p. \[i, iii\], *pl. 101-200* (id.), 1-7 indexes. *3*: Mai 1827-Mai 1829, p. \[i, iii\], *pl. 201-300* (id.), 1-9 indexes. *4*: Jun 1829-Jun 1831, p. \[i\], *pl. 1-100* (id.), \[iii\]-v, bibl., \[vi-viii index\]. *5*: Jul 1831-Jul 1833, p. \[i\], *pl. 101-200* (id.), \[iii\]-vi, bibl., \[vii-xiii\]. *6*: Aug 1833-1 Aug 1835, p. \[i\], *pl. 201-300* (id. E.D. Smith, J.W. Smith, J. Hart), \[i-vi indexes\]. *7*: 1 Sep 1835-1 Dec 1837, p. \[i\], *pl. 301-412* (id.), \[i-ii, err.\], \[iii, note\], \[v-x, index\]. *Copies*: HH, NY. – Volumes 5-7 occur also as vols. 1-3 of *The British flower garden* (series the second)... The copies with t.p.'s as above ("1837") have "The two series complete. In seven volumes". The original volumes of ser. 1 are dated 1823-1825, 1825-1827, 1827-1829 and 1829-1831. For new names published anonymously by Robert Sweet in "The news of literature and fashion" 1824-1826 and referred to in *Brit. fl. gard*. see Airy Shaw (1937). ##### n.13.546. Cistineae **Title** *Cistineae*. The natural order of Cistus, or Rock-Rose; illustrated by coloured figures & descriptions of all the distinct species, and the most prominent varieties; that could be at present procured in the gardens of Great Britain; with the best directions for their cultivation and propagation... London (James Ridgway,...) 1825-1830. Qu. **Abbreviated title**: *Cistineae*. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1 Jul 1825-Jan 1830 (in bimonthly parts of *4 pl*. The dates on the plates are confirmed by the dates on the original covers (copy seen by J. Collins)), p. \[i\]-xx, *112 plates*, with text sign. A-2G (2G: p. \[1-3\] index), plates col. copper by N., J. and W. Hart and by Mrs Margaret Read Brown. *Copies*: B-S, BR, G, HH, NSW, NY, PH; IDC 6473. – For a reissue (1845) see Sotheby 729. ##### n.13.547. Hortus britannicus **Title** Sweet's *Hortus britannicus*: or, a catalogue of plants cultivated in the gardens of Great Britain; arranged in natural orders: with the addition of the Linnean classes and order to which they belong, reference to the books where they are described, their native places of growth, when introduced, time of flowering, duration, & reference to figures, with numerous synonyms... London (James Ridgway,...) 1826. Oct. (in 4-s) **Abbreviated title**: *Hort. brit.* **Notes** *Ed*. \[*1*\]: 2 parts, 1826. *Copies*: HH, NY, PH, US, USDA. *1*: Aug-Sep 1826 (p. iii: 1 Aug 1826), p. \[i-iv\], \[1\]-240. *2*: Sep-Oct 1826 (NY copy signed 1 Oct 1826; t.p. 1826), p. \[i-iv\], 241-492, \[493-524 index and bibl.\]. *Ed*. \[*1*\], *reissue*: \[1826-\] 1827, p. \[i-viii\], \[1\]-492, \[493-524\]. *Copies*: BR, G, USDA; IDC 1020. – Simply a reissue with an 1827 general t.p. *Ed. 2*: Oct-Dec 1830 (p. iv: Oct 1830), p. \[i\]-xv, \[1\]-623, \[624\]. *Copies*: B-G, BR, HH, NY, PH, Teyler, US, USDA; IDC 1135. *Ed. 3*: late 1839, p. \[i\]-xx, \[1\]-799. *Copies*: B, G, HH, NY, USDA; IDC 1274. Edited by George Don (1798-1856). – The copy at B carries the date m.dcccxxxix on the title page; the other copies seen by us have undated t.p.'s. *Ref*.: Manitz, H., Feddes Repert. 94: 176-182. 1983 (overlooked names in Hort. brit. eds. 1-3). ##### n.13.548. Flora australasica **Title** *Flora australasica*; or, a selection of handsome, or curious plants, natives of New Holland, and the South Sea Islands; containing coloured figures and descriptions of some of the choicest \[sic\] species most proper for the conservatory or greenhouse, and many of which will endure the cold of our climate, in the open air, with a very little protection; with magnified dissections of their most essential parts, their names, descriptions, & a full account of the best method of cultivation and propagation. The greater part are handsome evergreen shrubs, and many produce sweet-scented flowers; and as they are generally of free growth, and easily managed, they may be considered as the most desirable plants for cultivation... London (James Ridgway,...) 1827-1828. Qu. †. **Abbreviated title**: *Fl. australas.* **Notes** *Publ*.: 1 Jun 1827-1 Jul 1828 (in 14 parts, shown by the dates on the plates), p. \[i-iv\], *56 pl*. with text (handcol. copp. E.D. Smith). *Copies*: BR, G, HH, NY, PH, USDA; IDC 8324. – The copy at G has the original covers with the same dates as those on the plates. – For a reissue see Sotheby 1922. ##### n.13.549. British botany **Title** No. I. *British botany*... London 1831. Qu. **Abbreviated title**: *Brit. bot.* **Notes** *Publ*.: 1 Jun 1831, 9 p., *2 col. pl*. (all published). *Copy*: BM. – An announcement and specimen treatment of a work which apparently never came out. The plates are engravings by H. Weddell, Botanical Engraver, Walworth; the text by R. Sweet. *Ref*.: Callery, B.G., *in* A. Wheeler and J.H. Price, History in the service of systematics 17. 1981 (on wrapper).