Background
Originally, the well-known botanist Asa Gray was to be the chief botanist, and William Rich, a Washington, District of Columbia socialite and son of an ambassador, was politically appointed as his assistant.
Botanist explorer horticulturist
Originally, the well-known botanist Asa Gray was to be the chief botanist, and William Rich, a Washington, District of Columbia socialite and son of an ambassador, was politically appointed as his assistant.
Brackenridge emigrated to Philadelphia in 1837, where he was employed by Robert Buist, nurseryman. He was appointed horticulturalist, then assistant botanist, for the United States Exploring Expedition from 1838-1842. However, Gray never went on the expedition due to taking an academic job, and Rich was appointed botanist, so they needed a new assistant.
Rich was reportedly of little use on the trip, and Brackenridge did almost all the collecting and serious botany work.
Brackenridge was assigned to the United States. Ship Vincennes. In 1839, he collected plants in the Sydney and Hunter River districts of New South Wales, Australia.
From 1841-1842, the ships explored the Oregon and California coasts, with trips inland. After returning, he continued working with the collected plants and wrote the fern report for the expedition, included in the overall botanical report written by Asa Gray.
After 1855, he lived in Baltimore and worked as a nurseryman and landscape architect.
Near Mount Shasta, he discovered the California Pitcher Plant, Darlingtonia californica, one of the noted successes of the expedition. Brackenridge Passage in Puget Sound is named for him. Reports of the day indicate that Brackenridge was a hardy, strapping six-footer.
They had at least four children: Agnes (1846), Robert Buist (1847), William Doctorate. (1850), and Jane Henderson Brackenridge (1854).
The plant genus Brackenridgea A. Gray, in the Ochnaceae (Fiji and Australia)
The tree fern Cyathea brackenridgei Mett. (Cyatheaceae)
(list not inclusive)
Diocidopteris Brackenr.
(genus)
Diellia Brackenr. (genus; now included in Asplenium L)
Darlingtonia californica Brackenr.
Onychium densum Brackenr.: now Aspidotis densa (Brackenr) Lellinger
Antrophyum subfalcatum Brackenr.
Cyrtogonium palustre Brackenr.: now Bolbitis palustris (Brackenr) Hennipman
Sitolobium samoense Brackenr.: now Dennstaedtia samoensis ( Brackenr) T.Moore
Gymnogramme pilosa Brackenr.: now Coniogramme pilosa (Brackenr) Hieron. Blechnum coriaceum (Brackenr) Brownlie
Blechnum vittatum Brackenr. Polypodium sarmentosum Brackenr.: now Adenophorus sarmentosus ( Brackenr ) K.Wilson
Goniopteris costata Brackenr.: now Pneumatopteris costata (Brackenr) Holtt.
Lastrea attenuata Brackenr.: now Plesioneuron attenuatum (Brackenr) Holtt.
Goniopteris glandulifera Brackenr.: now Pneumatopteris glandulifera (Brackenr) Holtt. Elaphoglossum inlermedium Brackenr.
Pteris sinuata Brackenr. Oleandra hirta Brackenr.