Economic Botany Collection

Catalogue no.:

43222

Botanical classification:

MORACEAE Ficus sp.

Common name:

Fig

Geographical description:

Calcutta, India

Item description:

Necklace of lac

Length:

105cm

No. of beads:

136

Bead size:

0.8cm long

Plant information:

Resin is excreted by the southeast Asian native lac insect, Laccifera lacca (synonym Tachardia lacca) and forms a crust on the branches of the tree. The lac insect is found largely on banyan and juniper trees. The dye produced is a by-product of the shellac purification process, and has been used since ancient times to colour silk and wool.

Donor date:

24/05/1884

Donor:

Dr (later Sir) George King (1840-1909) - Dr King was born in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire and, after his parents died, joined a family publishing firm, later studying medicine. At Aberdeen University he developed an interest in botany. After graduation he joined the Indian Medical Service (IMS), but continued to devote his spare time to naturalist pursuits. After taking positions in the Saharanpur Botanic Garden and Indian Forest Service he was eventually made superintendent of the Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta and of cinchona cultivation in Bengal. Here he established a method of distributing the drug at a low price. He organised the Botanical Survey of India and became Professor of Botany at the Medical College of Bengal, Calcutta from 1871 to 1895. King authored over sixty publications and had several plants and a genus of orchid named after him. He was awarded medals by the University of Uppsala, the Linnaean Society and the Royal Horticultural Society (Victoria Medal), and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1887.