The Writings of Ferdinand Lindheimer: Texas Botanist, Texas Philosopher (Gideon Lincecum Nature and Environment Series)

Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer is known as the “father of Texas botany.” While he was not the first botanist to collect plants for scientific examination in Texas, his collections are credited with helping botanists around the world to understand the nature, extent, and significance of the diversity of plants in the state. In partnership with Asa Gray of Harvard University, Lindheimer spent eight years collecting Texas plants to distribute to a list of paying subscribers—including places like the British Museum, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, and the Smithsonian Institution. Today, no fewer than 362 plant names are based, at least in part, on Lindheimer collections, and 65 plants have been named in his honor. Lindheimer was a founding settler of New Braunfels, raising his family on the banks of the Comal River while he continued to collect and ship plant specimens. He was “elected” as the first editor of the Neu-Braunfelser Zeitung (still published today as the Herald-Zeitung ), and served from 1852 to 1872. He wrote a number of articles for the Zeitung on topics ranging from plants, climate, and agriculture to Texas Indian affairs, optimism, and teaching schoolchildren. In the last year of Lindheimer’s life, one of his students worked with him to collect an assortment of his essays and articles from the Zeitung . In 1879, the collection was published as Aufsätze und Abhandlungen von Ferdinand Lindheimer in Texas ( Essays and Articles of Ferdinand Lindheimer in Texas ). John E. Williams now offers the first English translation of these essays, which provides valuable insight into the natural and cultural history of Texas. Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer is known as the "father of Texas botany." While he was not the first botanist to collect plants for scientific examination in Texas, his collections are credited with helping botanists around the world to understand the nature, extent, and significance of the diversity of plants in the state. In partnership with Asa Gray of Harvard University, Lindheimer spent eight years collecting Texas plants to distribute to a list of paying subscribers--including places like the British Museum, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, and the Smithsonian Institution. Today, no fewer than 362 plant names are based, at least in part, on Lindheimer collections, and 65 plants have been named in his honor. Lindheimer was a founding settler of New Braunfels, raising his family on the banks of the Comal River while he continued to collect and ship plant specimens. He was "elected" as the first editor of the Neu-Braunfelser Zeitung (still published today as the Herald-Zeitung), and served from 1852 to 1872. He wrote a number of articles for the Zeitung on topics ranging from plants, climate, and agriculture to Texas Indian affairs, optimism, and teaching schoolchildren. In the last year of Lindheimer's life, one of his students worked with him to collect an assortment of his essays and articles from the Zeitung. In 1879, the collection was published as Aufsätze und Abhandlungen von Ferdinand Lindheimer in Texas (Essays and Articles of Ferdinand Lindheimer in Texas). John E. Williams now offers the first English translation of these essays, which provides valuable insight into the natural and cultural history of Texas. [tamupress.com] Cover Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Notes on Publication History Aufsätze und Abhandlungen von Ferdinand Lindheimer in Texas: Essays and Articles of Ferdinand Lindheimer in Texas Personal-Notiz: About the Author [Introduction to the German Edition] Essay 1. Die Cypresse im westlichen Texas: The Bald Cypress in Western Texas Essay 2. Das Klima von Texas: The Climate of Texas Essay 3. Eine Uebersicht der Flora von Texas: An Overview of the Flora of Texas Essay 4. Die kürbisartigen Gewächse in Texas: The Gourd-like Plants in Texas Essay 5. Ueber Viehzucht und Ackerbau in Texas: About Livestock and Agriculture in Texas Essay 6. Ein Verbrechen der texanischen Regierungmit einem Anhang über die hiesigen Indianer: A Crime of the Texas Government Essay 7. Meine Reise und Aufenthalt in Mexiko: My Travel and Sojourn in Mexico Essay 8. Optimismus: Optimism Essay 9. Ueber Schulunterricht: On School Instruction Essay 10. War der Mensch schonein Zeitgenosse des Mastodon?: Was Man Really a Contemporary of the Mastodon? Essay 11. Scheinbare Anastrophe im Lebender Natur und der Menschheit: An Apparent Inversion in the Life of Nature and Humanity Essay 12. Reflexionen eines Botanikers: Reflections of a Botanist Essay 13. Geburtstags-Gedankeneines 75 Jährigen: Birthday Thoughts of a 75-Year Old Translator’s Introduction to Appendixes: How Plants Get Described and Named Appendix 1. Plants Named by Lindheimer Appendix 2. Plants Named in Honor of Lindheimer Appendix 3. Plant Names Based on Lindheimer Collections Glossary of Taxonomic Terms Bibliography Index "In the last years of Lindheimer's life, one of his students worked with him to collect an assortment of his essays and articles from the Zeitung. The collection was published as "Aufsätze und Abhandlungen von Ferdinand Lindheimer im Texas" (Essays and Articles of Ferdinand Lindheimer in Texas) in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1879. John E. Williams now offers the first English translation of these essays, which will provide valuable insight into the natural and cultural history of Texas"-- Provided by publisher