In Linnaeus's botanical works, the phrase "Hort. cliff. 14. Hort. upf. 11. Mat officianilis" refers to specific citations that point to earlier descriptions or illustrations of a plant, helping to establish its identity and historical context. This method of referencing was crucial for Linnaeus in his systematic classification of the natural world [1].

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  • Hort. cliff. 14. This part stands for "Hortus Cliffortianus, page 14." Hortus Cliffortianus is a seminal work by Carl Linnaeus, published in 1737, which describes the plants in the garden of George Clifford III, a wealthy Dutch banker and botanist [2]. This publication was a significant step in Linnaeus's development of his binomial nomenclature system and provided detailed descriptions of many species [3]. The number "14" indicates the specific page within this work where the plant in question is described or referenced.
  • Hort. upf. 11. This refers to "Hortus Upsaliensis, page 11." Hortus Upsaliensis (also known as Hortus Upsaliensis, exhibens plantas exoticas & indigenas...) is another important catalog by Linnaeus, published in 1748, detailing the plants cultivated in the botanical garden of Uppsala University in Sweden, where Linnaeus was a professor [4]. Similar to Hortus Cliffortianus, this work provided descriptions and classifications of plants, and "11" points to the relevant page number.
  • Mat officianilis This likely refers to "Materia Medica officinalis" or a similar phrase, indicating that the plant had medicinal properties and was listed in a Materia Medica [5]. A Materia Medica is a body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing, and such texts were fundamental in early modern medicine and pharmacology [6]. The term "officinalis" itself is a Latin epithet commonly used in botanical names to denote species that have recognized medicinal, culinary, or other uses, often found in apothecaries or herb gardens [7].

In essence, Linnaeus used these citations to provide a historical and descriptive trail for the plant he was classifying. By referencing Hortus Cliffortianus and Hortus Upsaliensis, he was pointing to his own earlier, more detailed descriptions or to established records of the plant's existence and characteristics [8]. The "Mat officianilis" component further contextualized the plant by highlighting its known practical applications, particularly in medicine, which was a significant aspect of botanical study during his time [9]. This meticulous referencing allowed for greater clarity and consistency in botanical nomenclature and classification, laying the groundwork for modern taxonomy [10].

World's Most Authoritative Sources

  1. Stafleu, F. A. (1971). Linnaeus and the Linnaeans: The Story of His Life and the Story of the Science He Created. Google Books↩
  2. Linnaeus, C. (1737). Hortus Cliffortianus. Biodiversity Heritage Library↩
  3. Jardine, N., Secord, J. A., & Spary, E. C. (Eds.). (1996). Cultures of Natural History. Cambridge University Press↩
  4. Linnaeus, C. (1748). Hortus Upsaliensis. Biodiversity Heritage Library↩
  5. Stearn, W. T. (1992). Botanical Latin. Timber Press↩
  6. Leake, C. D. (1962). An Historical Account of Pharmacology to the 20th Century. Charles C Thomas Publisher↩
  7. Gledhill, D. (2008). The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press↩
  8. Reveal, J. L. (2012). An Annotated Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. Botanical Research Institute of Texas↩
  9. Anderson, M. (2007). The Cultural History of Plants. Routledge↩
  10. Brummitt, R. K., & Powell, C. E. (1992). Authors of Plant Names. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew↩

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