> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 331](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33066671) of TL-2 Vol. VII > Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/11719-1) LSID 11719-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2916692) QID Q2916692 > Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]] ### Author Willis, John Christopher (1868-1958), British botanist; studied at University College, Liverpool and at Gonville and Caius College (M.A.), Cambridge; Frank Smart Student for Botanical Research 1890-1893; senior asistant in botany and lecturer in botany at Queen Margaret's College, Glasgow University 1894-1896; director Royal Botanical Gardens, Ceylon 1896-1911; director Botanic Garden, Rio de Janeiro 1912-1915; in retirement working at Cambridge and, later, at Montreux, Switzerland. **Abbreviated name**: *Willis* \[standard form in IPNI: *Willis*\] #### Herbarium and types Material at [[Collection CGE|CGE]], [[Collection K|K]], [[Collection PDA|PDA]]. – See also Kent and Allen (1984). – *Letters* at [[Collection G|G]]. #### Bibliography and biography BB p. 329; BFM 2362, 2673; BL 1: 94, 96, 98, 2: 10, 296, 732; BM 8: 1438; CSP 19: 640; Desmond p. 664; Langman p. 807; Lenley p. 437; MW suppl. p. 395; PH 567; TL-2/15.157, see H. Trimen; Tucker 1: 336, 470, 747-748. #### Biofile - Anon., Bot. Centralbl. 67: 96. 1896 (app. Ceylon), 90: 176. 1902 (tour England, U.S., Japan), 119: 336. 1912 (app. Rio de Janeiro); Bull. misc. Inf. Kew 1896: 186 (app. Ceylon); Cat. gén. livr. impr. Bibl. natl. 224: 278-279. 1976; Index Amer. bot. lit. 1886-1966. 4: 547. 1969; Nature 151: 247. 1943 (75th birthday); Nat. Nov. 18: 442. 1896 (app. Ceylon), 34: 234. 1912 (app. Rio de Janeiro); Österr. bot. Z. 46: 343. 1896 (app. Ceylon), 62: 151. 1 Mar 1912 (app. Rio de Janeiro); Trop. Life 1906: 120 (portr.); Who's who (London) 1912-1957; Who was who (London) 5: 1176. 1951-1960. - Baehni, Ch., Les musées de Genève 1950(7) (Willisisme contra Darwinisme). - Burkill, I.H., Proc. Linn. Soc. London 169: 245-250. 1958 (obit.); Chapt. hist. bot. India 187, 203-206. 1965. - Croizat, L., Atti ist. bot. Lab. crit. Univ. Pavia ser. 5. 15: 229-255. 1958; Arch. bot. biogr. ital. 34: 90-116. 1958. - Frodin, D.G., Guide stand. fl. World 618 \[index\]. 1984. - Holttum, R., Taxon 19: 710. 1970. - Kent, D.H. & D.E. Allen, Brit. Irish herb. 275. 1984. - Lowden, R.M., Taxon, Index pers. names vols. 1-30. 797. 1984. - Salisbury, E.J., Nature 181: 1103-1104. 1958 (obit.). - Turrill, W.B., Biogr. Mem. R. Soc. 4: 353-359. 1958 (obit., portr., bibl.). - Verdoorn, F., ed., Chron. bot. 2: 247. 1936, 4: 276. 1938, 6: 333. 1941: - Willis, J.C., Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradenia 1: 12-14. 1902. - Wulff, E., Intr. hist. pl. geogr. 223 \[index\]. 1943. #### Composite works - (1) *Annals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya*, 1-5, 1901-1912. - (2) *Official hand-guide to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya*, ed. 5, Colombo 1898. - (3) With J.S. Gardiner, *The botany of the Maldive Islands*, Ann. R. Bot. Gard., Peradeniya 1: 45-164. 1901. - (4) *Agriculture in the troplcs*, ed. 2, 1914, Cambridge. - (5) *Troplcal exploitation*, with special reference to rubber, *in* F.W. Oliver, ed., *The exploitation of plants*, 1917, p. 62-82. #### Note Outside our period: *The birth and spread of plants*, originally issued as Boissiera 8, 1949, reprinted by The Chronica Botanica Company, Waltham, Mass., U.S.A., p. \[i\]-x, \[xi\], \[1\]-561. *Copy*: MICH. #### Eponymy *Willisia* Warming (1901). *Note*: *Willisia* J. A. Wolfe (1968) honors Bailey Willis (1857-1949), American geologist. ### Publications ##### n.17.811. Contributions to the natural history of the flower **Title** *Contributions to the natural history of the flower* I \[-II\]... London (printed for the Linnean Society...) 1893 \[-1894\]. Oct. **Notes** *1*: 28 Aug 1893, cover-t.p., p. \[51\]-63, *pl*. 5. – Reprinted and to be cited from Linn. Soc. J., Bot. 30: 51-63, *pl. 3.* 1893. *2*: 6 Oct 1894, p. \[284\]-298, *pl. 18-19.* – Id. 30: 284-298, *pl. 18-19.* 1894. *Copies*: B, G, H. ##### n.17.812. The natural history of the flower **Title** *The natural history of the flower*... Reprinted from "Natural Science,... 1894. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Mai 1894, cover-t.p., p. \[347\]-352. *Copies*: B, G. – Reprinted and to be cited from Nat. Sci. 4(27): 347-352. 1894. ##### n.17.813. Observations on the flora of pollard willows near Cambridge **Title** *Observations on the flora of pollard willows near Cambridge*,... \[Extracted from the Proceedings of the Cambridge philosophical Society \[1894\]\]. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Observ. fl. pollard willows*. **Notes** *Co-author*: Isaac Henry Burkill (1870-1965). *Publ*.: 1894 (read 15 Mai 1893; reprint Bot. Zeit. 1 Apr 1894) cover-t.p., p. \[i, recto of p. 82\], 82-88, \[89-92\]. *Copies*: B, H, HH, MO. – Preprinted or reprinted from Proc. Cambr. philos. Soc. 8(2): 82-88, \[89-92\]. 1894. ##### n.17.814. A manual and dictionary of the flowering plants **Title** *A manual and dictionary of the flowering plants* and ferns... Cambridge (at the University Press) 1892. 2 vols. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Man. dict. fl. pl.* **Notes** *Ed*. \[*1*\]: Dec 1896 or Jan 1897 (Bot. Zeit. 2 vols., 1 Mar 1897; Bot. Centralbl. 2 vols. 3 Feb 1897; J. Bot. Mar 1897 (rev.); Nat. Nov. Jan(2) 1897). *Copies*: MO, US, USDA. – *Review*: A.B. Rendle, J. Bot. 35: 109-110. 1897. *1*: 1897 (p. ix: Aug 1896), p. \[i\]-xiv, \[1\]-224. *2*: 1897, p. \[i\]-xiii, \[1\]-429. *Ed. 2*: Jan-Mar 1904 (p. ix: 17 Nov 1903; Bot. Zeit. 16 Mai 1904; Bot. Centralbl. 12 Apr 1904; J. Bot. Mai 1904; BSbF 11 Mar 1904), p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-670. *Copies*: B-S, NY, Rensselaer Polyt. Inst. – *Review*: J. Bot. 57: 229-230. 1919. *Ed. 3*: 1908 (p. ix: Dec 1907; Bot. Centralbl. 15 Sep 1908; Nat. Nov. Jun(2) 1908), p. \[i\]-ii, map, \[iii\]-xii, \[1\]-712. *Copies*: HH, NY. *Ed. 3* (reprint): 1914, p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-712. *Copies*: LIV, USDA. *Ed. 4*: 1919 (p. vii: 4 Apr 1919), p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-712, \[i\]-liv, lv. *Copies*: H, HH, MO, PH, US, USDA. *A dictionary of the flowering plants and ferns*... fourth edition revised and rewritten... Cambridge (id.) 1919. Oct. (*Dict. fl. pl.*). *Ed. 5*: 1925 (p. vii: 24 Mar 1925; NY rd. by 25 Nov 1925; ÖbZ for Jun-Sep 1925; Nat. Nov. Sep 1925), p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-727, \[728\], \[i\*\]-liv\*, key, \[lv\*, index, colo.\]. *Copies*: MO, NY. *Ed. 6*: 1931 (p. vii: Jan 1931), p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-752, \[i\]-liv, \[lv\]. *Copies*: LIV, MO, US, USDA. *Ed. 6* (reprint): 1948. *Ed. 6* (reprint): 1951, p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-752, \[i\]-liv, \[lv\]. *Copies*: FAS, HH, MO, NY, USDA. *Ed. 6* (reprint): 1955, p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-752, \[i\]-liv, \[lv\]. *Copies*: HH, MO. *Ed. 6* (reprint): 1957, p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-752, \[i\]-liv, \[lv\]. *Copies*: LIV, USDA. *Ed. 6* (reprint): 1960, p. \[i\]-xii, \[1\]-792, \[i\]-liv, \[lv\]. *Copies*: G, MO, USDA. *Ed. 7*: 29 Dec 1966, p. \[i\]-xxii, 1-1214, \[i\]-liii. *Copies*: FAS, G, H, NY, PH. – *A dictionary of the flowering plants and ferns*... seventh edition revised by H.K. Airy Shaw. Cambridge (id.) 1966. (Reviews: B.L. Burtt, Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 28(1): 87-88. Sep 1967; F.G. Meyer, Science 157: 674. 11 Aug 1967; F.A. Stafleu, Taxon 16: 333-334. Aug 1967; C.G.G.J. van Steenis, Fl. males. Bull. 22: 1586-1590. 1968 ("the author has been driven by a desire to innovate"); G. Wagenitz, Bot. Jahrb. 87 (Lit.): 35-36. 1967). *Ed. 8*: 1973, p. \[i\]-xxii, 1-1245, \[i\]-lxvi. *Copies*: G, H. –Contrary to ed. 7 which is still called "A dictionary... by *J.C. Willis*", the 8th ed. has "the late J.C. Willis". *Note*: F.N. Howes, *A dictionary of useful and everyday plants* and their common names, Cambridge 1974, x, 290 p., is based on ed. 6,1931 of Willis's *Manual*. ##### n.17.815. A handbook of the vegetable economic products of Ceylon **Title** *A handbook of the vegetable economic products of Ceylon*, native, cultivated, or imported ... Colombo (H.C. Cottle,...) 1901 et seq. \[i.e. 1901\]. Oct. †. **Abbreviated title**: *Handb. veg. econ. prod.* **Notes** *Co-author*: Herbert Wright. *Publ*.: Nov 1901, (p. 25 Oct 1901), p. \[i-ii\], \[1\]-50. *Copies*: HH, PH. – Issued as Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya suppl. 1 (1). – Remained incomplete. ##### n.17.816. The geographical distribution of the Dilleniaceae **Title** *The geographical distribution of the Dilleniaceae* as illustrating the treatment of this subject on the theory of mutation... Peradeniya... 1907. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Oct 1907, cover-t.p., p. \[69\]-77. *Copy*: G. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya 4(2): 69-77. 1907. ##### n.17.817. Some evidence against the theory of the origin of species **Title** *Some evidence against the theory of the origin of species* by natural selection of infinitesimal variations, and in favour of origin by mutation... Colombo (H.C. Cottle, ...) London (Dulau & Co.,...) 1907. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Mai 1907, cover-t.p., p. \[1\]-15. *Copy*: B. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya 4(1): \[1\]-15. 1907. – *Further evidence*... ib. 4: 17-19. 1907. – See also his *The flora of hilltops in Ceylon*... in 4: 131-138. 1908. ##### n.17.818. The flora of Naminakulikanda **Title** *The flora of Naminakulikanda*, a somewhat isolated mountain in the province of Uva... Reprinted from the "Annals of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya",... 1911. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Dec 1911, cover-t.p., p. 217-222. *Copy*: G. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Peradeniya 5(3): 217-222. 1911. ##### n.17.819. Corrections and additions to Trimen's "Flora of Ceylon **Title** *Corrections and additions to Trimen's "Flora of Ceylon*", 1893-1911... Reprinted from the "Annals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, "... 1911. Oct. **Notes** *Co-author*: Albert Malins Smith (1879-1962). *Publ*.: Dec 1911, cover-t.p., p. \[175\]-214. *Copies*: G, NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. R. Bot. Gard., Peradeniya 5(3): \[175\]-214. 1911. ##### n.17.820. A revised catalogue of the indigenous flowering plants **Title** *A revised catalogue of the indigenous flowering plants* and ferns *of Ceylon*... Colombo (H.C. Cottle,...) 1911. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Revis. cat. pl. Ceylon*. **Notes** *Publ*.: Sep 1911 (Öbz for Sep 1911; Nat. Nov. Oct(1) 1911; Hedwigia 28 Nov 1911; NY rd. Nov 1911; Bot. Centralbl. 16 Jan 1912), p. \[i-ii\], \[1\]-188. *Copies*: BR, HH, M, MO, NY, PH. – Peradeniya manuals of botany, entomology, agriculture, and horticulture no. 2. – Original *catalogue* by H. Trimen 1885 (q.v.). – The cover has "A revised... Ceylon, native and introduced. By J.C. Willis,... and M. Willis \[Mrs. J.C. Willis, Minnie Baldwin, d. 1931). ##### n.17.821. On the lack of adaptation in the Tristichaceae and Podostemaceae **Title** *On the lack of adaptation in the Tristichaceae and Podostemaceae*... Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Royal Society,... \[1914\]. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*: 1914 (read 30 Apr 1914), cover-t.p., p.\[532\]-550. *Copies*: B, NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Proc. R. Soc. B87: \[532\]-550. 1914. – Earlier major publications on Podostemaceae: (1) *A revision of the Podostemaceae of India and Ceylon*, Ann. R. Bot. Gard., Peradeniya 1: 181-250. 1902 and (2) *Studies in the morphology and ecology of the Podostemaceae of Ceylon and India*, ib. 1: 267-465. 1902. ##### n.17.821a. Tristichaceae **Title** A new natural family of flowering plants – *Tristichaceae*... \[Extracted from the Linnean Society's Journal-Botany,... 1915\]. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*: 1915, p. \[49\]-54. *Copy*: B. – Reprinted and to be cited from J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 63: \[49\]-54. 1915. ##### n.17.822. The origin of the Tristichaceae and Podostemaceae **Title** *The origin of the Tristichaceae and Podostemaceae*... Annals of Botany,... 1915. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*: Apr 1915, cover-t.p., p. 299-306. *Copy*: B. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 29: 299-306. 1915. ##### n.17.823. The evolution of species in Ceylon **Title** *The evolution of species in Ceylon*... with reference to the dying out of species... Annals of Botany,... 1916. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*: Jan 1916, cover-t.p., p. \[1\]-23. *Copies*: B, NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 30: \[1\]-23. – Review: A. Arber, Bot. Centralbl. 132: 235-236. 29 Aug 1916. *Preceded by*: *The endemic flora of Ceylon*, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B 206: 307-342. 1915, with a correction ib. 89: 257. 1916. – This paper contains the hypothesis of *Age and area*. – Criticism of the hypothesis by Sinnott, in Ann. Bot. 31: 209. 1917 and Science 46: 457. 1917. ##### n.17.824. The distribution of species in New Zealand **Title** *The distribution of species in New Zealand*... Annals of Botany,... 1916. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*: Jul 1916, cover-t.p., p. \[437\]-457. *Copies*: B, NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 30: 437-457. 1916. – Detailed *review*: Hugo de Vries, Science ser. 2. 45(1173): 641-642. 22 Jun 1917; author's *summary*: Bot. Centralbl. 134: 318-319. 1917. ##### n.17.825. The relative age of endemic species **Title** *The relative age of endemic species* and other controversial points... Annals of Botany... 1917. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*: Apr 1917, cover-t.p., p. \[189\]-208. *Copies*: B, NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 31(122): 189-208. 1917. ##### n.17.826. Further evidence for age and area **Title** *Further evidence for age and area*; its applicability to the ferns, etc.... Annals of Botany... 1917. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*: Jul-Oct 1917, cover-t.p., p. 335-349. *Copies*: B, NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 31(123-124): 335-349. 1917. – The *Age and Area* hypothesis was first proposed by Willis in his *The endemic flora of Ceylon* 1916 (see above under *Evol. sp. Ceylon* 1916). ##### n.17.827. The distribution of the plants of the outlying islands of New Zealand **Title** *The distribution of the plants of the outlying islands of New Zealand*... Annals of Botany... 1917. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*: Jul-Oct 1917, cover-t.p., p. \[327\]-333. *Copy*: B. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 31(123-124): 327-333. 1917. ##### n.17.828. The sources and distribution of the New Zealand flora **Title** *The sources and distribution of the New Zealand flora*, with a reply to criticism... Annals of Botany... 1918. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*: Jul 1918, cover-t.p., p. \[339\]-367. *Copies*: B, NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 32(127): 339-367. 1918. – Reply to Sinnott's criticism in Ann. Bot. 31: 209. 1917, Science 46: 457. 1917. ##### n.17.829. The flora of Stewart Island **Title** *The flora of Stewart Island* (New Zealand): A study in taxonomic distribution... Annals of Botany... 1919. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Jan 1919, cover-t.p., p. \[23\]-46. *Copies*: B, NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 33(129): 23-46. 1919. ##### n.17.830. The floras of the outlying islands of New Zealand **Title** *The floras of the outlying islands of New Zealand* and their distribution... Annals of Botany,... 1919. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Jul 1919, cover-t.p., p. \[267\]-293. *Copy*: NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 33: 267-293. 1919. ##### n.17.831. Endemic genera of plants **Title** *Endemic genera of plants* in their relation to others... Annals of Botany,... 1921. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Oct 1921, p. \[493\]-512. *Copy*: NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 35: 493-512. 1921. ##### n.17.832. Age and area **Title** *Age and area* a study in geographical distribution and origin of species... Cambridge (at the University Press) 1922. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Age and area*. **Notes** *Authorship*: Author J.C. Willis with chapters by Hugo de Vries, H.B. Guppy, Mrs E.M. Reid and James Small. – "\[These authors are not committed by writing these chapters, to the support of all the doctrines here advanced\]". *Publ*.: 1922 (p. vii: 4 Apr 1922; ÖbZ for Mai-Sep 1922; PH received 27 Nov 1922), p. \[i\]-x, \[1\]-259, \[260, colo.\]. *Copies*: BR, G, H, HH, MO, NY, PH. *Facsimile ed*.: 1970, A. Asher & Co. Ltd., Vaals. – Amsterdam 1970, p. \[i\]-x, \[1\]-259. – *Copies*: FAS, NY. – ISBN 90-6123-202-3. – See Taxon 20: 371. 1971. *Ref*.: Rendle, A.B., J. Bot. 60: 306-307. 1922 (rev.). - Vries, Hugo de, J. Heredity 14(4): 165-170. 1923 (rev.). - Willis, J.C, Ann. Bot. 37: 193-215. 1923; Quart. Rev. Biol. 1(4): 553-571. 1926. ##### n.17.833. The origin of species **Title** *The origin of species* by large, rather than by gradual change, and by Guppy's method of differentiation... Annals of Botany,... 1923. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Oct 1923, cover-t.p., p. \[605\]-628. *Copy*: NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 37: 605-628. 1923. ##### n.17.834. The evolution of the Tristichaceae and Podostemaceae **Title** *The evolution of the Tristichaceae and Podostemaceae* I.... Annals of Botany,... 1926. Oct. **Notes** *Publ*.: Apr 1926, cover-t.p., p. \[349\]-367, *pl. 13. Copy*: NY. – Reprinted and to be cited from Ann. Bot. 40: 349-367, *pl. 13.* 1926. ##### n.17.835. The course of evolution **Title** *The course of evolution* by differentiation or divergent mutation rather than by selection... Cambridge (at the University Press) 1940. Oct. **Abbreviated title**: *Course evol.* **Notes** *Publ*.: 1940 (p. viii: 25 Mar 1940), p. \[i\]-viii, \[1\]-207. *Copies*: BR, G, HH, NY. *Facsimile ed*.: 1974, Hafner Press, New York, London, p. \[i\]-xvi, \[1\]-207. *Copies*: FAS, NY. – On p. v-xiii: Introduction to the reprint edition, by W. Wayne Moss, Alfred E. Schuyler. – ISBN 0-02-854860-4. – See Taxon 24: 688. 1975. *Ref*.: Ramsbottom, J., J. Bot. 79: 134-136. 1941 (rev.).