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Richard Pearce (botanist)
Encyclopedia
Richard Pearce was a Victorian
plant collector, who introduced the tuberous begonia
to England, which led to the development of the hybrid begonias
grown today.
in Devon
. His first employment was with Pontey's nursery in Plymouth
, where he stayed until about 1858, when he went to work at the nursery of James Veitch at Mount Radford, near Exeter
.
, with instructions to collect in Chile
and Patagonia
. In particular, he was directed to collect seeds of Libocedrus tetragona, at that time supposed to be the tree which produced the famous Alerce timber
. His agreement also required him to locate and collect the Chilean Bellflower, Lapageria rosea and its white variety L. alba, the Chile Pine (then known as Araucaria imbricata) and other hardy trees and shrubs as well as to collect orchids
and stove (hothouse
) and greenhouse flowering plants.
Pearce successfully carried out his instructions, and as well as the plants he was contracted to collect, he also obtained and introduced Prumnopitys elegans, Podocarpus nubigenus
, Eucryphia glutinosa
, several Bomarea
s, Cavendishia bracteata
, Ourisia coccinea
, O. pearcei and quantities of fern
s, the Victorian fern craze
then being at its height. His researches on this trip showed that the tree that produced Alerce timber
was the Patagonian Cypress, Fitzroya cupressoides and not Libocedrus tetragona as had been previously thought.
During 1860 Pearce made many journeys to the mountains and the interior of Chile
. He wrote of the scenery of that part of the Chilean Cordilleras
which he explored:
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Early in 1862 Pearce left Chile and travelled north to Peru
and Bolivia
, before moving on to Ecuador
in search of stove and greenhouse plants. From Cuenca
he sent seeds of many plants, including Befaria ledifolia, Lisianthus magnificus, Calceolaria ericoides
, and several types of Tacsonia, before returning from Guayaquil
to England with six large Wardian case
s of plants, amongst which was a handsome plant of the Marantaceae
, which was named Calathea veitchiana
in honour of his employers.
In January 1863, James Veitch again sent him to South America on another three year expedition "to collect plants, seeds and other objects of Natural History". He travelled initially to Lima
, Peru
, from where he was to travel to "such parts of South America as by written instructions to him should be determined. Particular attention was to be directed to the Province of Teukamon
, [Argentina] should there be facilities for reaching that country." His travels took him through Peru, Ecuador
and Bolivia
, before eventually reaching Tucumán. Amongst the plants that he discovered on this expedition and introduced to English hot-houses were Aphelandra nitens
and Sanchezia nobilis
. From Argentina, he collected Nierembergia rivularis
and N. veitchii
, Palava flexuosa, Mutisia decurrens
and several varieties of Peperomia
. On his return to La Paz
, in November 1865 he also sent back to England a number of Hippeastrum
s, including H. pardinum
and H. leopoldii
and some samples of Eccremocarpus
which were subsequently lost.
Pearce continued to explore the Andes; one of his final discoveries before returning to England was Masdevallia veitchiana
, which he discovered in Peru
and successfully introduced to England.
, Pearce discovered three varieties of tuberous begonia, which were introduced to England, and became the fore-runners of the many varieties now available:
Pearce also brought back from Peru a species he named Begonia rosiflora, but this has subsequently been considered to be the same as B. veitchii, since the two forms differ only slightly, mainly in flower colour.
in 1866, Pearce's contract with James Veitch & Sons was terminated and he returned to his home at Plymouth, where he married.
In 1867 he came to London where he was contracted by William Bull to travel back to South America in search of Masdevallia veitchiana
. On arrival in Panama
he set off in search of a species of Cypripedium
(C. planifolium) which he had been advised was growing nearby. His search was in vain and following his return to Panama City
, he was taken ill on 13 July, and died on 17 July 1867 (aged 33) of yellow fever
transmitted by a mosquito
's bite.
According to Hortus Veitchii, "as a botanical collector Pearce was one of the best, and his untimely death was a great loss to the world of horticulture
".
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
plant collector, who introduced the tuberous begonia
Begonia
Begonia is a genus in the flowering plant family Begoniaceae and is a perennial. The only other members of the family Begoniaceae are Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in the Hawaiian Islands, and the genus Symbegonia which more recently was included in Begonia...
to England, which led to the development of the hybrid begonias
Begonia × tuberhybrida
Tuberous begonias are a group of Begonia cultivars, regarded as some of the most spectacular of the genus....
grown today.
Early career
Pearce was born at Stoke, DevonportStoke, Plymouth
Stoke, also referred to by its earlier name of Stoke Damerel, is a parish, once part of the historical Devonport, England. Prior to 1914, it was a suburb of Devonport. In 1914, Devonport and Plymouth amalgamated with Stonehouse: the new town took the name of Plymouth...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. His first employment was with Pontey's nursery in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, where he stayed until about 1858, when he went to work at the nursery of James Veitch at Mount Radford, near Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
.
James Veitch & Sons
In February 1859, Pearce was sent by Veitch to South America for three years as a "collector of plants, seeds, land-shells and other objects of Natural History". Pearce travelled initially to ValparaísoValparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
, with instructions to collect in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
. In particular, he was directed to collect seeds of Libocedrus tetragona, at that time supposed to be the tree which produced the famous Alerce timber
Fitzroya
Fitzroya is a monotypic genus in the cypress family.-Species:The single living species, Fitzroya cupressoides, is a tall, long-lived conifer native to the Andes mountains of southern Chile and Argentina, where it is an important member of the Valdivian temperate rain forests...
. His agreement also required him to locate and collect the Chilean Bellflower, Lapageria rosea and its white variety L. alba, the Chile Pine (then known as Araucaria imbricata) and other hardy trees and shrubs as well as to collect orchids
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
and stove (hothouse
Hothouse
Hothouse or Hot House or Hot house may refer to:* A heated greenhouse* "Hot House" , a jazz standard* Hot House , a 1995 album by musician Bruce Hornsby* Hot House...
) and greenhouse flowering plants.
Pearce successfully carried out his instructions, and as well as the plants he was contracted to collect, he also obtained and introduced Prumnopitys elegans, Podocarpus nubigenus
Podocarpus nubigenus
Podocarpus nubigenus is a species of podocarp, endemic to the Valdivian temperate rain forests of southern Chile and adjacent southwestern Argentina. It is the southernmost podocarp in the world, It grows from 38° to Ultima Esperanza , It grows in wet and swampy soils...
, Eucryphia glutinosa
Eucryphia
Eucryphia is a small genus of trees or large shrubs of the Antarctic flora, native to the south temperate regions of South America and coastal eastern Australia. Traditionally placed in a family of their own, the Eucryphiaceae, more recent classifications place them in the Cunoniaceae. There are...
, several Bomarea
Bomarea
Bomarea is one of the two major genera in the plant family Alstroemeriaceae. Most occur in the Andes. Several species are occasionally found as garden plants....
s, Cavendishia bracteata
Cavendishia
Cavendishia is a genus of about 100 species of woody perennial plants, many of which are epiphytic. The genus is native to tropical South America and Central America.-Selected species:*Cavendishia bracteata*Cavendishia complectens...
, Ourisia coccinea
Ourisia coccinea
Ourisia coccinea is a herbaceous perennial plant native of Chile, which is often used as an ornamental plant....
, O. pearcei and quantities of fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
s, the Victorian fern craze
Pteridomania
Pteridomania or Fern-Fever was a craze for ferns. Victorian decorative arts presented the fern motif in pottery, glass, metal, textiles, wood, printed paper, and sculpture, with ferns "appearing on everything from christening presents to gravestones and memorials."-Description:Pteridomania, meaning...
then being at its height. His researches on this trip showed that the tree that produced Alerce timber
Fitzroya
Fitzroya is a monotypic genus in the cypress family.-Species:The single living species, Fitzroya cupressoides, is a tall, long-lived conifer native to the Andes mountains of southern Chile and Argentina, where it is an important member of the Valdivian temperate rain forests...
was the Patagonian Cypress, Fitzroya cupressoides and not Libocedrus tetragona as had been previously thought.
During 1860 Pearce made many journeys to the mountains and the interior of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. He wrote of the scenery of that part of the Chilean Cordilleras
Chilean Coast Range
The Chilean Coastal Range is a mountain range that runs from north to south along the Pacific coast of South America parallel to the Andean Mountains, extending from Morro de Arica in the north to Taitao Peninsula, where it ends at the Chile Triple Junction, in the south. The range has a strong...
which he explored:
"It is of the most charming description: gently undulating meadows covered with a carpet of short grass, placid lakes reflecting from their smooth surface the mountains around, foaming cataracts and gentle rivulets, deep gorges and frightful precipices, over which tumble numerous dark, picturesque waterfalls reaching the bottom in a cloud of spray. High rocky pinnacles and lofty peaks, surround one on every side.
"Nor is the vegetation less beautiful and interesting. At an elevation of 4,000 ft. the vegetation exhibits a totally different character from that of the coast. Here one finds Antarctic Beeches (Fagus antarcticaNothofagus antarcticaNothofagus antarctica , is a deciduous tree or shrub native to southern Chile and Argentina from about 36°S to Tierra del Fuego . The southernmost occurrence is on Hoste Island, making it the southernmost trees on earth...
and F. betuloidesNothofagus betuloidesNothofagus betuloides, the Magellan's beech and is sometimes known by the common name guindo, is native to southern Patagonia.In 1769 Sir Joseph Banks collected a specimen of the tree in Tierra del Fuego during Captain Cook's first voyage....
), which constitute with Fitzroya patagonica the large forest trees. The Embothrium coccineumEmbothrium coccineumChilean firetree, Chilean firebush, Notro in Spanish , is a small evergreen tree in the family Proteaceae. It grows in the temperate forests of Chile and Argentina....
, Desfontainia spinosa, Philesia buxifoliaPhilesiaPhilesia is a flowering plant genus in the Philesiaceae family....
, three species of BerberisBerberisBerberis , the barberries or pepperidge bushes, is a genus of about 450-500 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs from 1-5 m tall with thorny shoots, native to the temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America. They are closely related to the genus...
, Pernettya and GaultheriaGaultheriaGaultheria is a genus of about 170-180 species of shrubs in the family Ericaceae. The name memorializes Jean François Gauthier of Quebec, a mis-spelt honour bestowed by the Scandinavian Pehr Kalm in 1748. These plants are native to Asia, North and South America, and Australasia...
are the most abundant of the flowering shrubs, whilst the numerous pretty little rock-plants meet one at every step with their various forms and colours."
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, before moving on to Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
in search of stove and greenhouse plants. From Cuenca
Cuenca, Ecuador
Cuenca is the capital of the Azuay Province. It is located in the highlands of Ecuador at about 2500 m above sea level...
he sent seeds of many plants, including Befaria ledifolia, Lisianthus magnificus, Calceolaria ericoides
Calceolaria
Calceolaria L. , also called Lady's purse, Slipper flower and Pocketbook flower, or Slipperwort, is a genus of plants in the Calceolariaceae family, sometimes classified in Scrophulariaceae by some authors...
, and several types of Tacsonia, before returning from Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
to England with six large Wardian case
Wardian case
The Wardian case, was an early type of sealed protective container for plants, which found great use in the 19th Century in protecting foreign plants imported to Europe from overseas, the great majority of which had previously died from exposure during long sea journeys, frustrating the many...
s of plants, amongst which was a handsome plant of the Marantaceae
Marantaceae
The Marantaceae or arrowroot family is a family of flowering plants known for its large starchy rhizomes. It is sometimes called the prayer-plant family...
, which was named Calathea veitchiana
Calathea veitchiana
Calathea veitchiana is a species of plant in the Marantaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
in honour of his employers.
In January 1863, James Veitch again sent him to South America on another three year expedition "to collect plants, seeds and other objects of Natural History". He travelled initially to Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, from where he was to travel to "such parts of South America as by written instructions to him should be determined. Particular attention was to be directed to the Province of Teukamon
Tucumán Province
Tucumán is the most densely populated, and the smallest by land area, of the provinces of Argentina. Located in the northwest of the country, the capital is San Miguel de Tucumán, often shortened to Tucumán. Neighboring provinces are, clockwise from the north: Salta, Santiago del Estero and...
, [Argentina] should there be facilities for reaching that country." His travels took him through Peru, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, before eventually reaching Tucumán. Amongst the plants that he discovered on this expedition and introduced to English hot-houses were Aphelandra nitens
Aphelandra
Aphelandra is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Acanthaceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas.They are evergreen shrubs growing to 1-2 m tall, with opposite, simple leaves 5-30 cm long, often with white veins...
and Sanchezia nobilis
Sanchezia
Sanchezia is a genus of the plant family Acanthaceae. It is estimated to contain about 20 to 50 species. Members of this genus are shrubs, rarely small trees or herbs, occurring in the lowlands of tropical South and Central America...
. From Argentina, he collected Nierembergia rivularis
Nierembergia rivularis
Nierembergia rivularis or water neirembergia is a species of ornamental plant in the Solanaceae family, which is native to South America....
and N. veitchii
Nierembergia
Nierembergia is a genus of plants in the Nightshade family. It is named after the Spanish Jesuit and mystic Juan Eusebio Nieremberg .-Species:* Nierembergia rivularis* Nierembergia scoparia...
, Palava flexuosa, Mutisia decurrens
Mutisia
Mutisia is a genus of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family.- Selected species :* Mutisia acerosa Poepp. ex Less. * Mutisia acuminata Ruiz & Pav. * Mutisia alata Hieron. * Mutisia andersonii Sodiro ex Hieron....
and several varieties of Peperomia
Peperomia
Peperomia is one of the 2 large genera of the Piperaceae family, with more than 1000 recorded species. Most of them are compact, small perennial epiphytes growing on rotten wood. More than 1500 species have been recorded, occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world, though...
. On his return to La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
, in November 1865 he also sent back to England a number of Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum is a genus of about 90 species and 600+ hybrids and cultivars of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some species are grown for their large...
s, including H. pardinum
Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum is a genus of about 90 species and 600+ hybrids and cultivars of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some species are grown for their large...
and H. leopoldii
Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum is a genus of about 90 species and 600+ hybrids and cultivars of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some species are grown for their large...
and some samples of Eccremocarpus
Eccremocarpus
Eccremocarpus is a genus of five species of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to western South America in Chile, western Argentina, and Peru. The species are evergreen semi-woody vines growing to 1-7 m tall....
which were subsequently lost.
Pearce continued to explore the Andes; one of his final discoveries before returning to England was Masdevallia veitchiana
Masdevallia veitchiana
Masdevallia veitchiana, also known as Veitch's Masdevallia or King of the Masdevallias, is a species of the Masdevallia genus of orchids....
, which he discovered in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and successfully introduced to England.
Begonias
Whilst exploring in the AndesAndes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, Pearce discovered three varieties of tuberous begonia, which were introduced to England, and became the fore-runners of the many varieties now available:
- Begonia boliviensisBegonia boliviensisBegonia boliviensis is a plant in the begonia family, Begoniaceae, which was introduced to Europe in 1864 by Richard Pearce who discovered it in the Bolivian Andes, although the plant had previously been identified by Hugh Weddell in the same region but not introduced.Begonia boliviensis is of...
was discovered in the BoliviaBoliviaBolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n Andes by Pearce in 1864 and shortly afterwards was introduced to Europe. Begonia boliviensis is of special historical interest to gardeners, being one of the species used by John SedenJohn SedenJohn Seden was a famous hybridist and horticulturalist best known for the hybrids he created while in the employment of Veitch nurseries. He was trained in hybridizing by John Dominy in 1861. In 1873 he began hybridizing tuberous begonias which in turn formed the basis from which modern garden...
in the production of the first hybrid tuberous begonia raised in England, Begonia × sedenii.
- Begonia pearceiBegonia pearceiBegonia pearcei is a plant in the begonia family, Begoniaceae. It was introduced to Europe in 1864 by Richard Pearce who discovered it in the Bolivian Andes and is important in the hybridising of the Begonia × tuberhybrida begonias, the first of which appeared in 1867.-Description:This begonia is...
, discovered in Bolivia in 1864, is also important in the hybridising of the Begonia × tuberhybridaBegonia × tuberhybridaTuberous begonias are a group of Begonia cultivars, regarded as some of the most spectacular of the genus....
begonias, the first of which appeared in 1867.
- Begonia veitchiiBegonia veitchiiBegonia veitchii is a plant in the begonia family, Begoniaceae, which was introduced to Europe in 1866 by Richard Pearce who discovered it in the Peruvian Andes near Cusco at an elevation of from and . It was named after Pearce's employers, James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, London. It can be found...
was introduced to Europe in 1866 after Pearce discovered it in the Peruvian Andes near CuscoCuscoCusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
at an elevation of from 10,000–12,000 feet. Begonia veitchii played an important role in the development of today's popular hybrid cultivarCultivarA cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s and, together with Pearce's other introductions, B. boliviensis and B. pearcei, was subsequently hybridized to produce the Begonia × tuberhybridaBegonia × tuberhybridaTuberous begonias are a group of Begonia cultivars, regarded as some of the most spectacular of the genus....
cultivar group.
Pearce also brought back from Peru a species he named Begonia rosiflora, but this has subsequently been considered to be the same as B. veitchii, since the two forms differ only slightly, mainly in flower colour.
Later career and death
On returning from La PazLa Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
in 1866, Pearce's contract with James Veitch & Sons was terminated and he returned to his home at Plymouth, where he married.
In 1867 he came to London where he was contracted by William Bull to travel back to South America in search of Masdevallia veitchiana
Masdevallia veitchiana
Masdevallia veitchiana, also known as Veitch's Masdevallia or King of the Masdevallias, is a species of the Masdevallia genus of orchids....
. On arrival in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
he set off in search of a species of Cypripedium
Cypripedium
Cypripedium is a genus of 47 species of lady's-slipper orchids native to temperate and colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere.Some grow in the tundra in Alaska and Siberia, which is an unusually cold habitat for orchids. They can withstand extreme cold, growing under the snow and blooming when...
(C. planifolium) which he had been advised was growing nearby. His search was in vain and following his return to Panama City
Panama City
Panama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
, he was taken ill on 13 July, and died on 17 July 1867 (aged 33) of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
transmitted by a mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
's bite.
According to Hortus Veitchii, "as a botanical collector Pearce was one of the best, and his untimely death was a great loss to the world of horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
".