A detailed plant hunter’s road map through early 1800s America, with field notes you can read as if you walked beside him.
This edition presents Frederick Pursh’s 1807 journal in its original spirit, offering a clear view of a dedicated botanist’s travels through Pennsylvania and New York. It reveals his discoveries, the landscapes he traversed, and the plants he documented along the way, framed by a simple, direct voice that captures the mood of the era.
- Read observations of wildflowers, ferns, and shrubs as Pursh traces rivers, bridges, and mountain gaps.
- Follow his day-by-day route from Philadelphia to the Lake Champlain region, including notes on habitats and plant forms.
- Discover how he identifies and names species, and how he notes changes in terrain and climate.
- Experience the sense of place through early American travel and natural history exploration.
Ideal for readers of botanical history and those curious about the early science of North American flora, this journal invites you to see the world through Pursh’s eyes and pencil.