John Lyon (botanist) facts for kids
John Lyon (1765–1814) was a Scottish botanist and plant collector. He explored parts of the USA in the late 1700s and early 1800s. He discovered many new plant species during his travels. Sadly, he passed away while on one of his expeditions.
The Life of John Lyon
John Lyon was born in or near Dundee, Scotland, in 1765. His family likely worked in the jute industry there. He trained to be a nurseryman and gardener. This probably happened on a large country estate close to Dundee.
By 1796, John Lyon was living in Pennsylvania, USA. He joined William Hamilton at a place called Woodlands near Philadelphia. There, he became the Director of planting. From 1799, he started collecting plants in the Allegheny Mountains. He spent nine years collecting plants in the state. He left the Woodlands estate in 1805.
In 1806, he took a collection of plants from America to London, England. He returned to America the next year. He then began collecting plants more widely. He focused on the Appalachian Mountains. His travels took him from Georgia all the way to Florida. He especially loved western North Carolina. He collected plants on the Roan Highlands, Grandfather Mountain, and Pilot Mountain.
John Lyon died on August 14, 1814, at the age of 49. He caught a fever during his travels. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Nashville, North Carolina. However, there is a memorial for him in the Howff Cemetery in Dundee, Scotland. His family was told he died in Nashville on August 14. This date is written on their family grave.
Some people have mistakenly thought his grave was found in Asheville, North Carolina. But that grave belongs to a different John Lyon. It has the wrong date of death. Even so, many stories have been made up about how he supposedly ended up there.
John Lyon's Plant Discoveries
John Lyon is known for bringing 31 new plant species into cultivation. This means he helped grow them for people to enjoy.
One plant he found was Calycanthus fertilis in 1806.
The most popular flowering shrub he brought to Britain was Pieris floribunda. He discovered it in September 1807. It was brought to Britain around 1809 or 1810.
A group of plants called Lyonia is named after him. These plants are similar to Pieris.
Images for kids
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The memorial to John Lyon in Dundee, Scotland.
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The beautiful Pieris floribunda plant, which John Lyon introduced.
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Flowers of a Lyonia plant, named in honor of John Lyon.
