> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 277](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33066617) of TL-2 Vol. VII > Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/11658-1) LSID 11658-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1375864) QID Q1375864 > Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]] ### Author Wight, Robert (1796-1872), British surgeon and botanist; MD Edinburgh 1818; assistant-surgeon East India Company in Madras 1819; superintendent Botanic Garden Madras 1826-1828; garrison surgeon Negapatam 1828-1831; in Scotland 1831-1834; military surgeon in India 1834-1836; with the Revenue Dept. 1836-1842; director of the Coimbatore Cotton Expt. Station 1842-1850; from 1853 in England (Grazeley Lodge near Reading). **Abbreviated name**: *Wight* \[standard form in IPNI: *Wight*\] #### Herbarium and types [[Collection K|K]]. – Further material at [[Collection A|A]], ADB, [[Collection B|B]] (mainly destr.), [[Collection BHU|BHU]], [[Collection BM|BM]], [[Collection BR|BR]], [[Collection C|C]], [[Collection CAL|CAL]], [[Collection CGE|CGE]], [[Collection DD|DD]], [[Collection E|E]], [[Collection FH|FH]], [[Collection FI|FI]], [[Collection G|G]], [[Collection GH|GH]], [[Collection GL|GL]]([[Collection E|E]]), [[Collection GOET|GOET]], [[Collection GZU|GZU]], [[Collection HAL|HAL]], [[Collection L|L]], [[Collection LE|LE]], [[Collection M|M]], [[Collection MH|MH]], [[Collection MO|MO]], [[Collection NSW|NSW]], [[Collection NY|NY]], [[Collection OXF|OXF]], [[Collection P|P]], [[Collection PH|PH]], [[Collection S|S]], [[Collection TCD|TCD]], [[Collection W|W]], [[Collection Z|Z]]. – *Letters* at [[Collection G|G]], [[Collection GH|GH]], [[Collection HAL|HAL]] (to Schlechtendal), K. – *Drawings* and mss. at [[Collection BM|BM]], [[Collection E|E]]-GL. #### Bibliography and biography AG 5(1): 274; Backer p. 625; Barnhart 3: 493; BB p. 326-327; BM 5: 2319; Bossert p. 435; Clokie p. 265; CSP 6: 364; Desmond p. 659 (b. 6 Jul 1796, d. 26 Mai 1872); DNB 61: 194-195 (G.S. Boulger) (also 21: 194-195); Frank 3 (Anh.): 113; GF p. 81; Herder p. 214; Hortus 3: 1207; IH 1 (ed. 6): 366, (ed. 7): 346; Jackson p. 383, 384, 388; Lasègue 586 \[index\]; Lenley p. 142-144; MW p. 528; NI 2139-2142, 3: 68; Plesch p. 459; PR 10243-10248, ed. 1: 11217-11223; Rehder 5: 920; RS p. 149; SK 4: cxvi, ccxviii; Sotheby 811; TL-1/1412-1417; TL-2/3004; Tucker 1:14, 745, 3: 334; Urban-Berl. p. 292, 410; Zander ed. 10, p. 732, ed. 11, p. 836. #### Biofile - Anon., Bonplandia 1: 35, 104, 134. 1853 (to Europe), 3: 35. 1855 (cogn. Leopoldina Roxburgh); Bot. Zeit. 11: 644-646. 1853 (biogr. sketch; Indian activities); Brit. Mus. gen. cat. print. books 257: 424. 1965; Flora 55: 473-476. 1872 (obit., transl. from Gard. Chron. 1 Jun 1872); J. Bot. 10: 223. 1872 (obit. not.); Proc. Linn. Soc. 1872-1873: xliv-xlvii. 1873 (obit.). - Ansari, R., Bull. Bot. Surv. India 23(1-2): 15-16. 1983. - Basak, R.K., Taxon 30: 784-793. 1981 (biogr., bibl. 65 nos., further biogr. refs.). - Boase, F., Mod. Engl. biogr. 3: 1338. 1965. - Boulger, G.S., *in* H. Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 5: 374-375. 1900. - Bridson, G.D.R. et al., Nat. hist. mss. res. Brit. Isl. 229.455, 255.70. 1980. - Burkill, I.H., Chapt. hist. bot. India 245 \[index\]. 1965. - Cleghorn, H.F.C., Trans. bot. Soc. Edinburgh 11: 363-388. 1873 (obit., portr., list publ.). - Crawford, D.G., A history of the Indian medical service 1600-1913. 144. 1914. - Hooker, J.D. & T. Thomson, Flora indica 48-50. 1855. - Hooker, W.J., J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 5: 247-249. 1853 (return to England). - Huxley, L., Life letters J.D. Hooker 1: 367, 2: 9, 12, 16, 394. 1918. - King, G., J. Bot. 37: 459. 1899. - Kent, D.H. & D.E. Allen, Brit. Irish herb. 273. 1984 (Brit. coll. ABD, GL). - Lamond, J., Newsletter Soc. Bibl. nat. Hist. 12: 7. 1981 (mss. E-GL). - Lowden, R.M., Taxon, Index pers. names vols. 1-30. 792. 1984. - Milner, J.D., Cat. portr. Kew 104. 1906 (portr. K). - Nelmes, E. & W. Cuthbertson, Curtis Bot. Mag. dedic. 143-144. 1932 (portr.). - Reichenbach, H.G., Bot. Zeit. 30: 785-788. 1872 (obit.). - Royle, J.F., On the culture and commerce of cotton in India, London 1851, p. 467-523. - Sayre, G., Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 19(3): 414. 1975 (id.). - White, Al. & B.L. Sloane, Stapelieae ed. 2. 1: 97-98. 1937. - White, R., *in* W.J. Hooker, J. Bot. 3: 156-168. 1840, 3: 169-201. Jan 1841 (letters, portr.). - Wittrock, V.B., Acta Horti Berg. 3(3): 172. 1905. #### Note The name of Robert Wight was repeatedly misprinted "Richard White" between 1829 and 1832 (Wallich, Numer. List. 60. 1829; on *Illustration of Indian Botany* 1830-1832 in W.J. Hooker's Misc. bot., see Basak 1981, p. 789. #### Eponymy *Wightia* Wallich (1830) very likely honors this author but the dedication reads: "in honorem... Richardi Wight,..." (See note above). ### Publications ##### n.17.572. Illustrations of Indian botany **Title** *Illustrations of Indian botany*; principally of the southern parts of the peninsula.... Glasgow (Curtt & Bell,...) 1831 \[-1832\]. Qu. (in 2-s). **Abbreviated title**: *Ill. Ind. bot.* **Notes** *Publ*.: 1831 (t.p., but possibly early 1832, see below), p. \[1\]-70, *suppl. pl. 1-19, 21-41* (col. copp.). *Copies*: B-S, G (58 p., *32 pl.*), HH, K (as copy at G). A reprint of four papers published in W.J. Hooker, Bot. Misc. 2: 90-110, *suppl. pl. 1-10*. Nov-Dec 1830, 344-360, *suppl. pl. 11-19*. before 10 Sep 1831, 3: 84-104, *suppl. pl. 21-32* before 3 Mar 1832 (publ. late 1831 hence possible) and 3: 291-302, *suppl. pl. 33-41*. 1 Aug 1833 (1 Mar 1833, fide Marshall 1936). It seems preferable to cite this work from the *Bot Misc*. and not from the reprint because there is no real evidence that the publication in book form came out before the publication in the journal. *Note*: The author's name is given as Richard Wight on the title page of the reprint, and in the first *three* fascicles of the publication in the Bot. Misc. However, fascicle four in Bot. Misc. (1 Aug 1832) has the correct "Robert Wight". The use of Richard was a simple error by W.J. Hooker. *Continuation*: *in* W.J. Hooker, J. Bot. 1: 62-67. Apr 1834, 225-231. Jul 1834. Not reprinted. *Ref*.: Marshall, H.S., Bull. misc. Inf. Kew 1936: 95. ##### n.17.573. Characters of some new or little known genera **Title** *Characters of some new or little known genera* of plants... From the Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, no. xxviii. \[1833\]. Oct. **Notes** *Co-author*: George Arnott Walker Arnott (1799-1868), TL-2/1: 67-69. *Publ*.: Jan-Apr 1833, p. \[1\]-4. *Copy*: G. – Reprinted and to be cited from Edinb. new philos. J. 14: 297-300. 1833. ##### n.17.574. Characters of new or little known genera **Title** *Characters of new or little known genera* of plants... From Edinb. New Phil. Journal for July 1832. \[1833\]. Oct. **Notes** Co-author: George Arnott Walker Arnott (1799-1868), TL-2/1: 67-69. *Publ*.: Jul and Oct 1833 (p. 181 journal 10 Jun 1833, issue for Jul 1833, second part in issue Oct 1833), p. \[1\]-9. *Copy*: G. – Reprinted and to be cited from Edinb. new philos. J. 15: 176-181. Apr, 378-381. Oct 1833. *Characters of three genera of Indian plants*, ib. 16: 314-316. Apr 1834. ##### n.17.575. Catalogue of Indian plants **Title** \[*Catalogue of Indian plants*\]... \[London 1833-1837\], lith. mss. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1833-1837, a lithographed mss. (p. \[1\]-144) with an introductory note on p. \[i\]: "In the following Catalogue of Plants will be found the names corresponding to the numbers attached to the specimens I have distributed. Descriptions will shortly appear in the "Prodromus Florae Peninsulae Indiae orientalis..." In that work we refer to the numbers in the Catalogue "Rob.t Wight 28th May 1833". The handwriting is that of G.A. Walker Arnott. *Copies*: G; IDC 5810. – In four parts: \[*1*\]: p. 1-64. 28 Mai 1833. \[*2*\]: p. 65-112. 24 Sep 1834. \[*3*\]: p. 113-128. Apr 1836. \[*4*\]: p. 129-144. 25 Sep 1837. *Ref*.: Marshall, H.S., Bull. misc. Inf. Kew 1953: 280. ##### n.17.576. Prodromus florae peninsula Indiae orientalis **Title** *Prodromus florae peninsula Indiae orientalis*: containing abridged descriptions of the plants found in the peninsula of British India, arranged according to the natural system ... vol. I. London (Parbury, Allen, & Co.) 1839. †. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Prodr. fl. Ind. orient.* **Notes** *Co-author*: George Arnott Walker Arnott (1799-1868), TL-2/1: 67-69. Collections at E-GL. *Publ*.: 10 Oct 1834 (see below), p. \[i\]-xxxvii, \[i\*\], \[1\]-480. *Copies*: BR, G, HH, LIV, MICH(2), MO, NY, PH, U, USDA; IDC 5812. *Note*: Only vol. 1 was published. For illustrations see Wight's *Icones*, which have reference to the species numbers of the Prodromus. Arnott alone did the Leguminosae (Bentham, Comm. Legum. gen. 1837). – Arnott evidently sent parts of the book in advance to Adrien de Jussieu. He sent the first 64 pages to de Jussieu (archives P) with a letter dated 15 Aug 1834. Pages 65-112 followed on 24 Sep 1834. There is no evidence to show that these parts were anything else but loose sheets. The book is listed as received by the Académie on 15 Dec 1834. The date of announcement of publication in Bent's Monthly Literary Advertiser of 10 October can be accepted as that of publication; (P. & W. Sep 1834). The book remained unfinished: volume 2 was never published. On 1 Aug 1834 Arnott wrote to Bentham (letter at K) that he was not going to print volume 2 until de Candolle's fifth volume of the Prodromus dealing with the Compositae was in his hands. This volume appeared in October 1836. – In an undated publisher's leaflet \[publ. around Sep 1834\] it is stated that the second volume "will contain, besides the portions written by the authors themselves, contributions by various eminent botanists; among which may be mentioned, the Compositae by Professor De Candolle of Geneva, the Labiatae and Scrofularinae by George Bentham, Esq...." *Ref*.: Beilschmied, C.T., Flora 18(1), Lit. Ber. 2: 17-32. 28 Feb, 3: 33-48. 21 Mar, 4: 49-57. 14 Mai 1835 (rev.). ##### n.17.577. Contributions to the botany of India **Title** *Contributions to the botany of India*... London (Parbury, Allen, & Co.) 1834. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Contr. bot. India*. **Notes** *Publ*.: Dec 1834 (P & W), p. \[1\]-136. *Copies*: BR, G, HH, MICH, NY, PH, U, USDA; IDC 5811. *Note* (*1*): G.A. Walker Arnott contributed to this work as an editor (p. 129) and sometimes as co-author of taxa (duly indicated). The treatment of the Compositae was done by A.P. de Candolle (p. 5-27) and several names (e.g. on p. 20-27) traditionally credited to his *Prodromus* actually first appear here. A few names taken from Wallich's *Catalogue* are validated in this work. The book deals only with *Compositae, Asclepiadaceae* and *Cyperaceae* \[D.H. Nicolson\]. *Note* (*2*): *Contributions to Indian botany*, Madras J. Lit. Sci. *5*(*14*): 1-14. Jan 1837 (LINN rd. 17 Aug 1837), *5*(*15*): 309-313. Apr 1837 (LINN rd. 2 Oct 1837). *Note* (*3*): *Notes on Indian botany*, Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 6: 357-363, 494-515. 1846, 7: 11-21, 143-165, 288-290. 1847, 8: 163-179. 1848. – Unidentified reprints exist with independent pagination \[1\]-32, and \[1\]-23. We could not compare the reprints with the journal publ. ##### n.17.578. Icones plantarum Indiae orientalis **Title** *Icones plantarum Indiae orientalis*, or figures of Indian plants... Madras (published by J.B. Pharoah for the author \[3: "printed for the author,...; 4-6: "sold by Messr. Franck and Co....\]) \[1838-\] 1840-1853. 6 vols. Qu. (in 2-s). **Abbreviated title**: *Icon. pl. Ind. orient.* **Notes** *1*: Jul 1838-Mai 1840 (see below), p. \[i-iv\], \[4 p. prospectus\], \[i\]-iii, \[v\], \[vii\], *pl. 1-35, 35 bis, 36-122, 122 bis, 123-318* (uncol. liths.). *2*: 1840-1843, p. \[i\], \[1\]-9, *pl. 319-416*, \[1\]-8, *pl. 417-514*, \[1\]-10, *pl. 515-631*, \[1\]-7, *pl. 632-736*, \[i\]-vi, \[i\]-iii. *3*: Mai \[?\] 1844-Sep 1846, p. \[i\*\], \[i\]-iv, \[i\]-vi, \[1\]-7, *pl. 737-815*, \[1\]-12, *pl. 816-930*, \[1\]-17, *pl. 931-960, 960-2, 961-964, 964-2, 964-3, 965-970, 970bis, 971-995, 995-2, 995-3, 996-1010, 1011/1012, 1013/1014, 1015-1044, 1045/1046, 1047-1162*. *4*: Jan 1848-Mai 1850, p. \[i\*\], \[i\]-iv, \[i\]-iv, \[v, err.\], \[1\]-17, *pl. 1163-1172, 1173/1174, 1175-1282*, 1-19, *pl. 1282-1306*, \[*1306bis*\], *1307-1313, 1314/1315, 1316-1332, 1334-1336, 1337/1338, 1339-1342, 1343/1344, 1345-1403*, 1-20, *pl. 1404/1405, 1406-1420, 1420bis, 1421-1479, 1479-2, 1479-3, 1480-1501*, 1-18, *pl. 1502-1621*. *5*: Mai 1851-Jan 1852, p. \[i\*\], \[i\]-vi, \[1\]-23, *pl. 1622-1658, 1659-1660, 1661-1663, 1664/1665, 1666, 1667/1668, 1669-1673, 1674/1675, 1676-1686, 1687/1688, 1689-1702, 1703/1704, 1705-1724, 1724bis, 1725-1744, 1745-1746, 1747-1750, 1751-1752, 1753-1760, 1761-1762*, \[part 2:\] 1-35, *pl. 1763-1776, 1776bis, 1777-1920*. *6*: Mar 1833, p. \[i\]-x, \[xi-xii\], 1-44, *pl. 1921-1986, 1987/1988, 1989-2007, 2008/2009, 2010-2016, 2017/2018, 2019/2020, 2021/2022, 2023-2030, 2031/2032, 2033/2034, 2035-2101*. *Copies*: BR, G, MO, NY, PH, U, USDA; IDC 1051. *Dates*: The dates given by Wight himself on p. viii of volume 6 are as follows (with additional information given by Merrill): |vol. |part |*plates* |dates | |--- |--- |--- |--- | |1 |1 |1-20 |Jul? 1838 | | |2-3 |21-60 |Sep 1838 | | |4-5 |61-100 |Nov 1838 | | |6-8 |101-161 |Jun 1839 | | |9 |162-181 |Aug 1839 | | |10 |182-201 |Sep 1839 | | |11-12 |202-241 |Nov 1839 | | |13-14 |242-279 |Feb 1839 | | |15-16 |280-318 |Mai 1840 | |2 |1 |319-416 |1840 | | |2 |417-514 |1840-'43 (prob. 1841)| | |3 |515-631 |1840-'43 (prob. 1842)| | |4 |632-736 |1840| |3 |1 |737-815 |Mai? 1844| | |2 |816-930 |1844-'45| | |3 |931-1046 |Nov 1845| | |4 |1047-1162 |Sep 1846| |4 |1 |1163-1282 |Jan 1848| | |2 |1283-1403 |Aug 1848| | |3 |1404-1501 |Apr 1849| | |4 |1502-1621 |Mai 1850| |5 |1 |1622-1762 |Mai 1851| | |2 |1763-1920 |Jan 1852| |6 | |1921-2101 |Mar 1853| *Note* (*1*): In plates \[1\]-\[20\] of the book the numbers (between 35 and 723) refer to the numbers of the species in Wight & Arnott's Prodromus. In the other plates the running number of the plate (21-2101) is combined with the Wight and Arnott number in a fractional form. *Note* (*2*): Plates bearing the legend "Roxburghianae" represent redrawings of Roxburgh's unpublished plates now at the Calcutta Botanic Garden, and thus represent Roxburghian species as described in his "Flora Indica" ed. 1,1 (1820), 2 (1824) and ed. 2 (1832). Where two numbers appear, one above the other, the "numerator" represents Wight's plate sequence (this number to be cited); the "denominator" is a reference to the species number in Wight & Arnott's "Prodromus" (1834). *Facsimile ed*.: 1963, 3 vols., Historiae naturalis classica no. 31, J. Cramer Weinheim. *Copy*: FAS. – *Vol. 1* contains text and *pl. 1-534, Vol 2*: *pl. 535-1368, vol. 3*: *pl. 1369-2101* and facsimile of Cleghorn's *General Index*, 1921 reprint. – ISBN 3-7682-0153-8. *Ref*.: Cleghorn, H.F.C., General index of the plants described and figured in Dr Wight's work entitled Icones... Madras 1856. Qu. – Reprinted London 1921, iii, 68 p. - Merrill, E.D., Arnold Arb. 22: 222-224. 1941. ##### n.17.579. Illustrations of Indian botany **Title** *Illustrations of Indian botany*; or figures illustrative of each of the natural orders of Indian plants, described in the auhtor's Prodromus florae peninsulae Indiae orientalis; with observations, on their botanical relations, economical uses, and medicinal properties; including descriptions of recently discovered or imperfectly known plants.... Madras (published by J.P. Pharoah for the author \[2: printed for the author, by P.R. Hunt,...\]) 1840-1850, 2 vols. Qu. (size). **Abbreviated title**: *Ill. Ind. Bot.* **Notes** *1*: \[1838-\] 1840 (p. v: 30 Dec 1839; in 13 parts see Gard. Chron. 2 Jan 1847; parts 1-8 (p. 1-130, *pl. 1-60*), 1838, 9-11 (p. 131-174, *pl. 61-84*) 1839; info. S.A. Skan in HH copy; information incomplete), p. \[i\*-vii\*\], \[i\]-xi, \[1\]-218, *col. pl. 1-5, 6* \["*5*"\], *7-9, 9*\[*bis*\], *10-11, 11* \[*bis*\], *12-27, 28a, 28b, 28c, 29, 29*\[*bis*\], *30-46, 46, 47* \["*46*"\], *48-56, 56bis, 57-95*; *uncol. pl. 1, 2, 16* \[index:\] p. xiii-xxi, err. slip. *2*: \[1841\]-1850 (in parts; part 1: 1841; later parts 1847-1850; see also notes on date of part 1 on p. 79; information incomplete; collation NI 2141 different), p. \[i\]-xi, \[1\]-230, *col. pl. 96-97,97\*,98-121, 121*\[*bis*\], *122-128, 128bis, 129-148, 148, 148b, 149-151, 151-b, 152-154, 134-b, 155, 155-b, 156, 156-b, 157-b, 158, 158-b, ijg, i^g-b, 160-J161, i6i-b, 162-164, 164-b, 165, 165-b, 166, i66-b, 167-168, i68-b, i6g-i73, 173-b, 174-176, 176-b, 177-181, "182 or 155-c".* *Copies*: BR, G, HH, LIV, MICH, MO, Nicolson, NY, PH, U. – The copy at MO has 19 supplementary plates "suppl. 1-19", on which nothing further is known to us. ##### n.17.580. Spicilegium neilgherrense **Title** *Spicilegium neilgherrense* or a selection of Neilgherry plants. Drawn and coloured from nature, with brief descriptions of each; some general remarks on the geography and affinities of natural families of plants, and occasional notices of their economical properties and uses... Madras (printed for the author,... \[2: sold by Messr. Franck & Co. ...) 1846-1851, 2 vols. Qu. **Abbreviated title**: *Spicil. neilgherr.* **Notes** *1*(*1*): 1846 (Hinrichs 21 Mai 1847; Bot. Zeit. 16 Jul 1847 as of 1846; rev. D.F.L. v. Schlechtendal, Bot. Zeit. 5: 582-585. 13 Aug 1847), p. \[i\]-ix, \[1\]-42, *pl. 1-29, 30/31, 32-*33, 34/35, 36-42, 42-1, 43-50 (col. liths.). *1*(*2*): 1847 (Flora 21 Nov 1847), p. \[i\*-iii\*; t.p. vol. 1\], 43-85, *pl. 51-67, 67-2, 67-3, 68-73, 76-82, 83/84, 85-102.* – N.B. plates 74 and 75 were not published. *2*(*1*): 1848-1850, p. \[1\]-44, *pl. 103-115, 116/117, 118-120, 121/122, 123-151.* *2*(*2*): 1851, p. \[i-iii; t.p. dated 1851\], p. 45-94, *pl. 152-177, 178/179, 180-181, 182/183, 184-202.* *Copies*: G (1(1-2), 2(1)), HH (compl.), MO (compl.), NY (compl.). – Probable no. of copies printed: 100.