Bursting to Blue. Lindera obtusiloba, Japanese Spicebush, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Here are Spicebush's flowers bursting out to a bright blue sky. It was named for Johann Linder (1878-1723), well-known Swedish botanist and medical doctor, in 1783 by his compatriot famous Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828) - indeed, he of Deshima fame - whom I've often mentioned in these pages. Our shrub was scientifically described in 1851 by Carl Ludwig Blume (1786-1862), the one-time German-Dutch botanist-director of the Kebun Raya of Bogor, Java, Indonesia. In China and Japan the shrub is used variously to treat blood conditions and allergies. It's spicely aromatic, hence its name; but it was still cold here so I couldn't judge its aroma which is said to be sweet. Lindera was first introduced to Europe in 1880. It was collected in the East by colorful Charles Maries (1851-1902) on the behalf of his employer, the wide-randing Veitch Nurseries in England.
Bursting to Blue. Lindera obtusiloba, Japanese Spicebush, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Here are Spicebush's flowers bursting out to a bright blue sky. It was named for Johann Linder (1878-1723), well-known Swedish botanist and medical doctor, in 1783 by his compatriot famous Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828) - indeed, he of Deshima fame - whom I've often mentioned in these pages. Our shrub was scientifically described in 1851 by Carl Ludwig Blume (1786-1862), the one-time German-Dutch botanist-director of the Kebun Raya of Bogor, Java, Indonesia. In China and Japan the shrub is used variously to treat blood conditions and allergies. It's spicely aromatic, hence its name; but it was still cold here so I couldn't judge its aroma which is said to be sweet. Lindera was first introduced to Europe in 1880. It was collected in the East by colorful Charles Maries (1851-1902) on the behalf of his employer, the wide-randing Veitch Nurseries in England.