Abstract:

Aims: The collection of plant specimens is crucial for taxonomic research. It was not until the early 20th century that China’s scientific community began independently conducting regional plant surveys and specimen collection. The botanical collecting activities of Shiwei (S. W.) Teng, a Guizhou-born plant collector in the 1930s, unfolded against this backdrop. Examining the plant specimens collected by S. W. Teng holds significant importance for understanding the early history of botanical collecting in China, particularly in Guizhou Province. 

Methods: We corrected the botanical names of specimens collected by S. W. Teng by collating primary data such as species names, collection sites, and dates from herbarium collections, and re-verified information regarding collectors, collection locations, and collection dates. 

Results: From March 1930 to October 1936, S. W. Teng participated in collecting a total of 2,968 plant specimens (comprising 4,778 individual specimens), representing 1,913 plant species across 878 genera and 184 families. These specimens were primarily collected from Guizhou, Jiangsu, and Hubei provinces. By analyzing the specimen records, S. W. Teng’s collection routes from 1930 to 1936 were reconstructed, and rare photographs of S. W. Teng and his assistants were presented for the first time. 

Conclusion: We recommend that unidentified specimens should undergo re-identification to further explore the potential value of those specimens. This study provides data support for research on the history of early plant collection in China and the botanical resources of Guizhou Province.

Key words: S. W. Teng, Guizhou Province, collection route, plant specimen, collection history