— 37 — 



Zygodon Nowellii was named; John Whitehead, another cotton operative, who 

 discovered Marsupella nevicensis; Horsfield, a postman, after whom a glorious 

 Daffodil was named; and many others. 



Amongst the most famous of them, however, was Ed. Hobson, a man in 

 a very humble position in life, who yet had for his correspondents and friends 

 such leading botanists as Sir William Jackson Hooker, R. 1^. Greville, Dr. Tay- 

 lor, and others, and after whom Lejeunea Hohsoniana was named by Linden- 

 berg. Edward Hobson never left this country, but his brother William went 

 to America, and from there probably sent specimens. I have made exhaustive 

 enquiries from some of his descendants and have searched for some notice of 

 him in our botanical literature, but in vain. 



Edward Hobson's great friend and correspondent was George Cayley, 

 another workingman botanist, who came under the notice of Sir William Jack- 

 son Hooker. He accompanied Sir Joseph Banks on his expedition to New South 

 Wales, from where he sent large botanical collections to Kew, amongst them being 

 a species which bears his name, Banksia Cayleyi. He returned to this country 

 in 1811. Later he was appointed Superintendent of the Botanical Gardens at 

 St. Vincent, where he lived for 9 years. Probably Cayley sent Hobson the 

 Lejeunea Hohsoniana, which Hobson would most likely send to Hooker, who 

 corresponded with Lindenberg, hence its name. In the "Syn. Hep.", 1844, 

 it is given as from St. Vincent, leg. Hobson, 1822, in Herb. Hooker. I think 

 the explanation will be correct, for I doubt whether Edward's brother, William, 

 ever left the States. 



In the life of Edward Hobson, published in the Memoirs of the Manchester 

 Literary and Philosophical Society, Vol. VI, New Series, 1842, there is also 

 mentioned a John Bentley, "who published an account of new plants which 

 he had found in the uncultivated parts of North America." Any information 

 as to William Hobson will be much appreciated by the writer of this note, who 

 is deeply interested in these old Lancashire workingnien botanists. 



18 Palatine Road, Withington, 

 Manchester, England. 



ALASKAN NOTES 



Albert C. Herre 



At various times I have received lichens from Alaska and I am listing here 

 the species and localities. I am indebted to Dr. Harold Heath, of Stanford 

 University, and Frank Hess, of the U. S. Geological Survey, for the specimens. 



1. Sphaerophorus glohosus (Huds.) Herre. Skagway. 



2. Lecidea panaeola Ach. Eagle. 



3. Cladonia alpestris (L.) Rabenh. Eagle. 



4. Cladonia coccifera (L.) Willd. White Pass; Tanana. 



5. Cladonia coccifera pleurota (Floerke) Schaer. White Pass. 



6. Cladonia deformis (L.) Hoffm. Eagle. 



