Jardin Botánico, Madrid.
The Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain (1787-1803), known to many botanists as the
'Sessé and Moçiño expedition' was a major undertaking. However, an entire century passed
before this exhibition was finally to bear fruit, in the form of two lengthy floristic works: Plantae
Novae Hispaniae and the Flora Mexicana. Although these works include details of the plants
and animals which were studied, collected, illustrated and described by various members of the
expedition, they unfortunately omit crucial details such as time of year and exact location.
The approximately 8,000 herbarium specimens collected in America by Sessé and Moçiño
remained in storage until 1935. It was not until the 20th century that research workers first
attempted to identify as many of Sessé and Moçiño's specimens as possible, by comparison
with the descriptions in Plantae Novae Hispaniae and Flora Mexicana.
| Number of microfiches | 275 |
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Order