While researching on Gonystylus, I found this!
From: Notes on the Genus Gonystylus Teijsm. et Binnend (Thymelaeaceae) by H. K. Airy Shaw in Kew Bulletin, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1947), pp. 9-16
The late C. F. Symington wrote me in April 1943 (the last communication received before his tragic death) : " There are at least 4, and probably 5, species of Gonystylus in the Malay Peninsula . . . I think Ridley had 4 species in his G. Maingayi." I have been unable to distinguish more than 2 species in the limited Peninsular material at Kew, but I have no doubt that Symington's statement will be found to be correct when work can be resumed on the Kepong and Singapore material (if still extant), or in the field.
It's a small, small world. :)
The last words before death. It's like the story Dr. Benito Tan told us.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Dipterocarpy stories
One of the cool things about researching about plants is the interesting stories behind the plants and the botanists behind them that emerge.
Today, I read about the Hopea sangal Korth., a story Prof. Leo Tan told us before for the Natural Heritage of Singapore module. The story of how Joseph Lai and his friends discovered this majestic tree at 46 Halton Road in Changi in November 2002, estimated to be at least 150 years old and shortly after, discovered that their precious tree was illegally chopped down.
The story didn't end there. The property company responsible for such a heinous crime, DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, was fined $8,000 and paid $76,035 to the state as compensation for chopping tree down in gazetted conservation area and for failing to seek NParks’ approval before felling tree respectively.
Dr. Shaun Lam rescued the fruits of the fallen tree and the 20 offsprings were nurtured by NParks.
And the wood of the tree was made into a sculpture and displayed at the Singapore Zoo.
One tree, so many stories.
And then I discovered a dusty book of great repute - Foresters' Manual of Dipterocarps and I took note of the author Colin Fraser Symington's lifespan - 1905-1943. Knowing a little of the history of the book, how the Japanese 'men of science' actually helped to preserve and published these books during the war time, against authority, after the passing of the author, made me all the more curious how the author died.
(I have this fascination with P.O.W.s and things related to war.)
Was he interned in Malaya? Did he die here? What exactly happened.
And it was so sad to find out.
"Symington himself escaped and eventually arrived in Nigeria. There, in a state of depression, he ended his own life in 1943."
Another interesting thing I found is in a letter attached to the book Dipterocarps of Sabah (North Borneo) by W. Meijer and G. H. S. Wood. In a letter addressed to Dr. Hsuan Keng, Lecturer of Botany of the date 6th July 1965 (hey! It was just shortly before Independence!), Dr. Meijer writes that he gives Dr. HS the book and hope for an exchange of his thesis and any further publications he will produce.
Cool. :)
Today, I read about the Hopea sangal Korth., a story Prof. Leo Tan told us before for the Natural Heritage of Singapore module. The story of how Joseph Lai and his friends discovered this majestic tree at 46 Halton Road in Changi in November 2002, estimated to be at least 150 years old and shortly after, discovered that their precious tree was illegally chopped down.
The story didn't end there. The property company responsible for such a heinous crime, DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, was fined $8,000 and paid $76,035 to the state as compensation for chopping tree down in gazetted conservation area and for failing to seek NParks’ approval before felling tree respectively.
Dr. Shaun Lam rescued the fruits of the fallen tree and the 20 offsprings were nurtured by NParks.
And the wood of the tree was made into a sculpture and displayed at the Singapore Zoo.
One tree, so many stories.
And then I discovered a dusty book of great repute - Foresters' Manual of Dipterocarps and I took note of the author Colin Fraser Symington's lifespan - 1905-1943. Knowing a little of the history of the book, how the Japanese 'men of science' actually helped to preserve and published these books during the war time, against authority, after the passing of the author, made me all the more curious how the author died.
(I have this fascination with P.O.W.s and things related to war.)
Was he interned in Malaya? Did he die here? What exactly happened.
And it was so sad to find out.
"Symington himself escaped and eventually arrived in Nigeria. There, in a state of depression, he ended his own life in 1943."
Another interesting thing I found is in a letter attached to the book Dipterocarps of Sabah (North Borneo) by W. Meijer and G. H. S. Wood. In a letter addressed to Dr. Hsuan Keng, Lecturer of Botany of the date 6th July 1965 (hey! It was just shortly before Independence!), Dr. Meijer writes that he gives Dr. HS the book and hope for an exchange of his thesis and any further publications he will produce.
Cool. :)
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