An Early Collection of the Red Alga Mikamiella ruprechtiana Made by Carl Merck on the Billings Expedition to Alaska (1785–94)

A number of original watercolored illustrations of North Pacific marine algae accompanied by the original algal specimens are deposited in the State Botanical Collection, National Herbarium of Victoria, Australia. These illustrations were executed by W.G. Tilesius, surgeon-naturalist-artist on the K...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ARCTIC
Main Author: Wynne, Michael J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 2009
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Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/63347
Description
Summary:A number of original watercolored illustrations of North Pacific marine algae accompanied by the original algal specimens are deposited in the State Botanical Collection, National Herbarium of Victoria, Australia. These illustrations were executed by W.G. Tilesius, surgeon-naturalist-artist on the Krusenstern Expedition (1803–06). One of these illustrated specimens was collected in the period 1790–91 on Unalaska Island, the Aleutian Islands, by C.H. Merck, naturalist-botanical collector on the Billings Expedition (1785–94). This marine alga, given the manuscript name “Palmetta aleutica” by Tilesius, is one of the earliest known specimens of marine algae collected from Alaskan waters. Its identity is Mikamiella ruprechtiana. Un certain nombre d’aquarelles originales d’algues marines du Pacifique nord accompagnées de spécimens d’algues font partie de la collection botanique d’État du National Herbarium de Victoria, en Australie. Ces illustrations ont été réalisées par W.G. Tilesius, chirurgien, naturaliste et artiste de l’expédition Krusenstern (1803 - 1806). Un des spécimens illustrés a été recueilli pendant la période de 1790 -1791 sur l’île d’Unalaska, dans les îles Aléoutiennes, par C.H. Merck, naturaliste et collectionneur botanique de l’expédition Billings (1785- 1794). Cette algue marine, que Tilesius a nommée « Palmetta aleutica », constitue l’un des premiers spécimens connus d’algues marines provenant des eaux alaskiennes. Son identité est Mikamiella ruprechtiana.