Career

Collecting localities

Collections

Literature

Biographical data

(Source: Flora Malesiana ser. 1, 1: Cyclopaedia of collectors)

(Source: Flora Malesiana ser. 1, 8: Cyclopaedia of collectors, Supplement II)

Born: 1880, Batavia, Java. Died: 1960, Leersum, U., Netherlands.

career:

Biologist who was educated at Amsterdam University, where he took his Ph.Dr’s degree in 1907; entomologist in the employ of the General Experiment Station at Salatiga (Centr. Java), 1908-09; teacher of natural history at secondary schools at Semarang (1909-15) and Bandoeng (1915-18; besides Director); Director of the Botanic Gardens at Buitenzorg (1918-32) and besides (1926-32) Extraordinary Professor at the Medical College, Batavia. When pensioned off in 1932, he returned to Holland, and settled at Leersum. After some years he was appointed University Lecturer at Amsterdam and in 1942 Professor.

During his term of office in Java, his studies especially covered the field of general biology, viz Zoocecidia, symbiosis of ants and plants, flower biology, seed dispersal, investigations on the mountain flora and the succession in the new vegetation of the isle of Krakatau.¹

He was an excellent photographer; his negatives are deposited at the Buitenzorg Botanic Gardens. Several plants were named after him.

Collecting localities:

(certainly incomplete). 1910. Centr. Java: teak forest near Semarang (May); G. Oengaran (May 7-8, Oct.); W. Java: Tjinjiroean (G. Malabar, May 22-..); Rioeng Goenoeng (June 9), Telaga Bodas (June 12); Centr. Java: G. Oengaran (Oct.).-1911. E. Java: Trètès (June 6); Centr. Java: Pager Goenoeng (Sept. 30), G. Andong (W of G. Merbaboe) (Oct.), G. Telemojo (Oct. 2), G. Merbaboe (Oct. 10).-1912. Centr. Java: Semarang; G. Moeriah (= Moerjo) (Sept.-Oct.), G. Merbaboe (Dec., also repeatedly in former years).²-1913. SW. Celebes and neighbouring islands:³ Makassar (Apr.), P. Kajoeadi (May 3-4), P. Bonerate (4), P. Kalaotoa (5-6), P. Bonerate (7-8), Pasitaloe Isls (8-9), P. Kalao (9-11), P. Tanah Djampea (12-16), P. Salajar (May 17-June 4), Makassar.-1914. Centr. Java: G. Oengaran (June); G. Diëng (Dec.).-1915. W. Java: G. Papandajan (Sept. 28); Taloen (Oct. 2).-1916. W. Java: G. Tangkoeban Prahoe (Dec.). 191.. Sumatra (herbarium list nos 2394-2489).-1918. W. Java: G. Galoenggan (= Galoenggoen) and Radjamandala (Nov.).-1919. Sumatra East Coast: Medan and Sibolangit (Febr. 14-end of Febr.); Malay Peninsula: Bot. Gard. Singapore; W. Java: Buitenzorg, Tjibodas, Tjampea, Depok; Krakatau and Verlaten Eiland (Apr. 24-28);⁵ W. Java: Batavia; Tjibodas and G. Pangrango (Dec.).-1920. Sumatra West Coast: environs of Fort de Kock (with Jacobson and Dakkus) and G. Sing(g)alang (with Dakkus & Luytjes) (Jan.);⁶ W. Java: G. Salak (March); Verlaten Eiland (Sunda Strait) (Apr.); G. Pangrango; Sumatra East Coast: Sibolangit (Sept.) and subsequently to the Malay Peninsula:⁷ Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and proceeding to Bangkok, Saigon, Hongkong, Japan and the Sandwich Isls.-1921. P. Sebesi (Sunda Strait) (Apr.);⁸ P. Berhala (E of Sumatra East Coast Res.) (July).-1923. W. Java: G. Pantjar and environs (with Bakhuizen van den Brink Sr & Dakkus) (Dec.).-1924. P. Leiden (Bay of Batavia) (April 21);⁹ Krakatau (July); E. Java: G. Lawoe (2nd half of Nov.).¹⁰ -1925. W. Java: G. Tjikorai (May); E. Java: G. Tengger and G. Smeroe (Nov.); W. Java: G. Pantjar (Dec.).-1926. W. Java: Bekas(s)i (Febr. 16). Dutch-American Expedition to New Guinea, 1926 (so-called Stirling Expedition):¹¹ sailing from Priok (Apr. 7); Ambon (collecting was done from 15-19; departure from there on the 24th); Dutch North New Guinea: Manokwari (28); mouth of the Mamberamo (29); Albatros camp (May 1-13), making collecting trips in the neighbourhood, viz on the van Rees Mts etc.; setting out from Pionier bivouac (May 14), further inland; 7 days’ trip along the Van Gelderen River (end of May); 7 days’ trip along the Thomsen River; back to Albatros bivouac (end of June); in July collecting was done at Albatros bivouac, Mamberamo, Havik Isl., Van der Willigen River; in Aug. and Sept. along the Rouffaer River; in Oct. Exploration bivouac, Nassau Mts (up to 2600 m) and along the Rouffaer River; in Nov. Rouffaer River, Motor bivouac, Exploration bivouac, Batavia bivouac, Albatros bivouac, Otken River.-1927. Centr. Java: G. Sindoro-Soembing (May);¹² E. Java: Pasoeroean (June 2); W. Java: G. Gedeh-Pangrango; Lembang and G. Tangkoeban Prahoe (Nov.); Wijnkoops Bay (Dec.).-1928. Toppershoedje (Febr. 17)¹³ & P. Babi (in Sunda Strait); W. Java: Java’s Eerste Punt (Febr.); G. Tangkoeban Prahoe (Apr.); G. Gedeh-Pangrango; Krakatau; E. Java: G. Idjen (Oct.); W. Java: G. Pantjar (with van Steenis) (Oct. 27-31).-1929. W. Java: G. Gedeh-Pangrango; SW of Leuwiliang (with Bakhuizen van den Brink Sr & van Steenis) (Febr. 2-5); E. Java: G. Kawi-Boetak and Oro-Oro (Apr. 14-21);¹⁴ Krakatau (July); W. Java: Zandbaai, S. coast (July); Sumatra East Coast (Sept.): G. Sibajak, Brastagi and Sibolangit.-1930. W. Java: G. Papandajan (with van Steenis) (Jan. 19-23, May 2^-5);¹⁵ Kamodjan, Danoe Tjiharoes, etc. (May).-1931. Centr. Java: G. Moeriah (= Moerjo) (March); W. Java: Wijnkoops Bay.-1932. W. Java: Wijnkoops Bay and Tjisolok (May 2) ; Anak Krakatau and Toppershoedje (May 29) in Sunda Strait; Centr. Java: Noesa Kambangan and Kedoe; S. Sumatra, Palembang: aerodrome (Aug. 13).

During the Buitenzorg period, 1918-32, he many times visited G. Gedeh-Pangrango¹⁶ and Krakatau, making special studies there (see sub literature).

collections:

Principally in Herb. Bog. [BO], where many lists of the collections are preserved, e.g. from the 1st Sumatra coll. numbered 2394-2489, from Krakatau (1919) numbered 3513-3778, from Ambon (1926) nos 8652-8680 and from New Guinea (1926) nos 8681-11403.¹⁷ Many dupl. in Herb. Leiden [L], some in Herb. Univ. Amsterdam [AMD]. In Herb. Utrecht [U]: 561 plants from SW. Celebes, Saleijer (= Salajar) and neighbouring islands with Mrs Docters van Leeuwen-Reynvaan (See there), nos 1300-1951; partially at Leiden [L];¹⁸ some dupl. in Herb. Bog. [BO]. Many living plants in Hort. Bog.

A number of plants was collected together with his sister-in-law C. Reynvaan (see there).

Original notes on New Guinea were destroyed o/b the ‘Dempo’ in 1932; his number lists got partially lost during the German occupation.

His large collection of zoocecidia¹ is preserved at Herb. Leiden [L].

literature:

(1) Author of ‘The Zoocecidia of the Netherlands East Indies’ (with Mrs J. Docters van Leeuwen-Reynvaan; Batavia 1926); ‘Biology of plants and animals occurring in the higher parts of Mount Pangrango-Gedeh in West-Java’ (Verb. Kon. Akad. Wet. (2nd sect.) 31, 1933, p. 1-278, 66 fig., 30 pl.); ‘Krakatau, 1883 to 1933. A. Botany’ (Ann. Jard. Bot. Buit. vol. 46-47, 1936, xii + 506 pp., 36 pl. + map).

(2) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Über die Erneuerung der verbrannten alpinen Flora des Merbaboe-Gebirges in Zentral-Java’ (Ber. D.B.G. 31, 1913, p. 151-157, 3 fig.).

(3) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Botanical results of a trip to the Salajar Islands’ (Blumea 2, 1937, p. 239-277), with Appendix (l.c. 3, 1939, p. 236-237).

(4) Erased (see Flora Malesiana ser 1, 8, Supplement II).

(5) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘De flora en de fauna van de eilanden der Krakatau-groep in 1919’ (Hand. 1ste N.I. Nat. Wet. Congr. 1919, p. 36-79, incl. 5 App.); ‘The flora and fauna of the islands of the Krakatau-groep in 1919’ (Ann. Jard. Bot. Buit. 31, 1921, p. 103-140, pl. 19-24); cf. also sub 1.

(6) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Naar de top van de Singalang bij Fort de Kock’ (Trop. Nat. 9, 1920, p. 97-104, 7 fig.).

(7) cf. Burkill in Gard. Bull. Str. Settlem. 4, 1927, nos 4-5.

(8) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘The vegetation of the Island of Sebesy, situated in the Sunda-Strait, near the Islands of the Krakatau-group; in the year 1921’ (Ann. Jard. Bot. Buit. 32, 1923, p. 135-192).

(9) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Blumen and Insekten auf einer kleinen Korallen-Insel’ (Ann. Jard. Bot. Buit. 37, 1927, p. 1-31, pl. 1-4).

(10) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘De alpiene vegetatie van de Lawoe-vulkaan in Midden-Java’ (Nat. Tijdschr. N.I. 85, 1925, p. 23-48, pl. 1-4).

(11) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Schets van de flora en fauna van het van Rees-gebergte rondom Albatros-bivak Nieuw-Guinee’ (Trop. Nat. 15, 1926, p. 177-186, 10 fig.); cf. also Ind. Gids 48, 1926,p.745-768,955-960,1038-1056, and Tijdschr. K.N.A.G. 43, 1926, p. 271-272, 747-750.

This expedition under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D.C., made use of a plane, brought by the American members, which became unfit for use, however, in July; the Dutch members were Docters van Leeuwen and le Roux, the former was appointed leader during the latter part of the expedition.

cf. also Ch.C.F.M. le Roux: ‘Expeditie naar het Nassau-gebergte in Centraal Noord Nieuw Guinee’ (Tijdschr. Ind. Taal-, Land-, en Volkenk. 66, 1926, p. 447-513, with maps and plts).

(12) Hans Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Avifauna der Mitteljavanischen Vulkane Soembing and Sindoro’ (Treubia 10, 1928, p. 439-446, pl. 14).

W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Gipfelvegetation der in Mittel-Java gelegenen Vulkane Soembing and Sindoro’ (Bull. Jard. Bot. Buit. sér. 3, vol. 11, 1930, p. 28-56, 2 fig., pl. 4-13).

(13) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Die Vegetation der Insel Toppers Hoedje in der Soenda-Strasse’ (Nat. Tijdschr. N.I. 94, 1934, p. 149-169).

(14) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Op de toppen van den Goenoeng Kawi in Oost-Java’ (Levende Natuur, Gedenkboek J.P. Thijsse 1935, p. 57-62, 4 fig.).

(15) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘De krater Tegal Primula van de Goenoeng Ipis (bij de Papandajan)’ (Trop. Nat. 19, 1930, p. 121-123).

cf. also sub van Steenis.

(16) W.M. Docters van Leeuwen: ‘Uit het leven van planten en dieren op de top van de Pangerango’ I-IV (Trop. Nat. 13, 1924, p. 97-103, 152-159; l.c. 15, 1926, p. 57-65, 141-146; and l.c. 16, 1927, p. 111-119, 185-194; in total 36 fig.); cf. also sub 1.

(17) Part of the New Guinea results published in Nova Guinea 18, 1934; and in Lauterbach, Beitr. Flor. Palmas. (in Eengl. Bot. Jahrb.).

Meliaceae by Harms in Engl. Bot. Jahrb. 72, 1942, p. 158-205.

(18) cf. Blumea 3, 1939, p. 236.

biographical data:

Trop. Nat. 21, 1932, p. 121-122, w. portr.; Backer, Verkl. Woordenb., 1936; Wie is dat? ed. 1-4; Vakbl. Biol. 40, 1960, p. 85-86; Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. 172, 1961, p. 131-132; Studentenalmanak Amsterdam 1961, p. 240-241, portr.