Centuria

Jong, M. de, Duistermaat, H., Stefanaki, A. & Andel, T. R. van, 2022, The book herbaria of Jacob Breyne (1637 - 1697) in the collection of Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, the Netherlands), Blumea 67 (2), pp. 77-96 : 84-85

Centuria , Prodromus and Tentamen

Out of all species represented by specimens in both herbaria, only one is mentioned in Breyne’s Centuria (1674: 130). This concerns what is probably a double-flowered form of water avens ( Geum rivale L., Rosaceae ). The Centuria contains an image of this plant, showing its multi-petalled flowers. None of the species present in the herbaria were mentioned in the Prodromus . Of the species in the 1659 herbarium, 12 are mentioned with a matching name and description in Gottfried Reyger’s Tentamen (1764), while three species match partially (i.e., a very similar name with a matching description). For the 1673 herbarium, nine species match in name and description, while seven do so partially (Appendix 5). With seven specimens, Breyne mentioned his planned works Pomerellia Viridario and Viridario Borussiaco, which he never finished. Possibly, Breyne had already decided to include these species in his manuscripts, and used these specimens as a basis for his illustrations and/ or descriptions.

Origin of specimens and function of the 1659 herbarium Although most specimens in the 1659 herbarium have indications of their collecting location, and were thus most likely collected by Breyne himself, there are indications that some plants were sent to Breyne by others. In Breyne’s days, a network of scholars exchanged knowledge (and for botanists: plant specimens) through letters. This network was known as the Republic of Letters, and included intellectuals from all over the world ( Daston 1991). Breyne corresponded with many fellow botanists in Europe and elsewhere, such as Willem ten Rhyne (a doctor in service of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) , visiting Japan and South Africa) and Hiëronymus van Beverningk in Leiden. Moreover, Breyne may have corresponded with garden owners and nurserymen, exchanging knowledge as well as specimens.

For some of the specimens in the 1659 herbarium we may ex- pect that they came to Breyne through letters. Firstly, with two specimens Breyne actually mentioned the plants being sent to him. The specimen of Swertia perennis L. ( Gentianaceae ) on page 2 was sent by ‘UE’ (‘Your Honour’, see above). In a piece of text without a plant on an unnumbered sheet, it is mentioned that a specimen under the name of ‘ Pulsatilla caerulea odoratissima’ was sent from Thorunia (Torún) by Jacobus Hase.

Furthermore, the specimens of Laportea canadensis (L.) Wedd. ( Urticaceae ) on page 13 may have been sent to Breyne as well, from North America or from a plant in cultivation. This species is not known to occur naturally in Europe, so it is unlikely that Breyne would have encountered it on his countryside trips. Secondly, the small size of the specimens would have allowed them to be included with a letter. Sadly, the Laportea specimens were not labelled by Breyne, leaving us without further clues as to their origin.

Although some references to a receiver (‘UE’, see above) would indicate that the 1659 herbarium was meant as a gift, the large number of pages without indications of plants being present would suggest a different use of (part of) this herbarium. Perhaps, Breyne used these sheets to (temporarily) store plants he received from, or was going to send to others, or that he was planning to discuss with fellow botanists. The 1673 herbarium was most likely made as a gift, judging from the large and elaborately arranged specimens, the amounts of text on each label and the fact this herbarium has been bound into a hardcover, as opposed to the loose sheets of the 1659 herbarium.