(Source: Flora Malesiana ser. 1, 5: Cyclopaedia of collectors, Supplement I)

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

Born: 1923, The Hague, Holland. Died: 22 Oct. 2003, Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A.

career:

Botanist, educated at the University of Amsterdam, where he took his Ph.D. in 1951; towards the end of that year he went to Java as Assistant of the Herbarium Bogoriense. After a short European leave he returned to Indonesia in Feb. 1955 as Lecturer in Botany in the Faculty of Agriculture, Pajakumbuh, Sumatra West Coast; Sept. 1956 Professor of  Botany there. He specialized in hepaticology, but also studies mosses, ferns and phanorogams, and is turning his attention to tropical forest botany, economic botany, and ecology. Repatriated in 1958. From May 1959 in the employ of the Forest Dept North Borneo, stationed at Sandakan. In 1962/63 he made a round-the-world trip, visiting herbaria; in 1966 with European leave again. In 1968 appointed Visiting Associate (later Associate) Professor in the University of Kentucky, Lexington, U.S.A.

Author of a botanical guide to Mt Kinabalu (Sandakan 1963, mimeogr.), papers on Dipterocarpaceae, etc. His investigations in Sumatra resulted in some other papers.¹⁴

Collecting localities:

1951	1952	1953	1954	1955
1956	1957	1959	1960-61	1962
1963	1964

1951. Singapore Island: harbour, jungle near Bot. Garden (Dec. 11). W. Java: from Dec. onwards many numbers from Hort. Bog. and environs of Bogor.-1952. W. Java: Antjol (Jan. 4, with van Borssum Waalkes); Bekassi, Rawa Tembaga¹ (Feb. 2, with Kern and Pleyte); Tjitjadas, Tjiteureup, Tjileungsir (8, with Kern and Pleyte); N. slope of G. Pangrango above Tugu (10, with Kostermans and van Borssum Waalkes); G. Gegerbintang (29, with Kostermans and Pleyte); Tugu, Gunung Mas, Tji­sampai, G. Mandalawangi (March 12-24); Tjileungsir-Lulut, limestone hills (Apr. 9, with Kern and Pleyte); Tjibodas, G. Gedeh (May 3, 25, June 2). Trip to E. Borneo with Kostermans^2,3,7: Samarinda, Mahakam (June 16); Kota Bangun (17, 18); along Bongan River from Kenohon Prian, near Muara Muntai, southwards to S. Langgar (24), Pringtali (25), to bivouac Tegumbit (26), staying at Tegumbit (27, 28), bivouac Tutus (100 m) (29, 30), short trip to Béwai terrace (400 m) and Béul terrace (700 m) (30), staying at Tutus and exploring the forest between S. Semon (100 m) and Béwai terrace (July 1-5); Béul bivouac (600-700 m) (6), exploring the terraces of Béul, Sembuni (800 m) and Berikan Bulu (900 m); Sulai Mandan (1000 m) and summit region of the Peak of Balikpapan (Gunung Beratus) (7-18)^2,7; back at Djambu, along Bongan River, and visiting swamps (25); Muara Muntai (27); returning to the coast³, at Tjandjong Bangko (July 31, Aug. 1); via Sanga Sanga and Air Putih to bivouac on S. Mukun (2); proceeding to S. Bangko (3), environs S. Mukun (4-7). W. Java: above tea estate Tji Amen, S of Leuwiliang (Sept. 21); Rawa Tembaga (24; with Kern); Depok (Oct. 1; with Kern, Kostermans and van Borssum Waalkes)⁴; Tugu, forest above tea estate G. Mas (3, 4)⁵; Tjibodas-Tjibeureum on G. Gedeh (22; with Kern and Gembong); Antjol (Nov. 12, with Hoogland); forest above tea estate Tji Anten, S of Leuwiliang (13, with Hoogland); Tugu, Tjisampai (14, with Hoogland); environs of Bandung, Dago (18), G. Tangkuban Prahu (21). -1953. Tjibodas on G. Gede(h)⁶ (Jan. 19-21, Feb. 28-29, March 1-2, 29, June 16-17, 20-21); climbing G. Gedeh (July 23), Rawah Denok (25), Tjibeureum-Rarahan (26); Lebak Saät (27-30), visiting the Aloon aloon of G. Gede(h) (28), and summit of G. Pangrango (29); Tjibodas (30, 31); Tjisarua (31, Aug. 6); Tjampea and G. Djambu, Leuwiliang (7); Antjol (8); Island Hoorn in the Bay of Djakarta (10); Muara Angké (23); E. Borneo (partly with Kostermans)⁷: Island Tarakan, oil-field Pamusion (Oct. 24-26); Island Nunukan: village at northern extremity (from Oct. 28), first collecting near forest garden, from Nov. 2-24 deeper inland, with bivouac I as base camp; bivouac Simengkadu at southern extremity (26-30), collecting in marsh, dryland, and mangrove forest; back to the village (Dec. 1), and by proa to S. Binusan (5, coil. 6-7); back at Tarakan (11); oil-field Pamusion (11-12), Sesanip (13), Amal (14), G. Tjankol (15), Sesanip (16), Kp. Empat (17), G. Tjankol (19).-1954. W. Java: several times in the nature reserve above Tjibodas, G. Gedeh (Jan. 21, March 17, June 22-25, Aug. 7)⁸; Depok (Feb. 21, with Kern, van Borssum Waalkes, and Kostermans)⁴, Tjilintjing (Feb. 25); Centr. Java:⁹ Jogja (= Djokja) (Apr. 28), Dieng Plateau (29), Telaga Balekambang, Telaga Warna, T. Terns, T. Lumut (30); W. Java: Tjisarua selatan (= Zuid) (July 21), Antjol (27), Djasinga, Tjurug, and Djungus Iwul (with Hildebrand, Aug. 4), Janlappa (Aug. 20). Trip to Sumatra West Coast (with J. Douglas): Padang Tinggi (Oct. 19, 20, 22) (detecting Rafflesia arnoldii), Bukittinggi, Karbau canyon, Subang Pass (21).-1955. Sumatra West Coast:¹¹ on various trips in the environs of Pajakumbuh, Harau canyon, marshes near Sarilamak, nothern slopes of G. Sago, above Padang Mengatas, above Halaban, above Padang Lawas, and to Bukit Nantigo; trips to summit G. Sago¹⁰ along ridge above P. Mengatas (June 28-30), Batang Palupuh (May 16), Merapi, trip to the summit (March 6, June 12-13); trip to Pasaman, Panti-Sukamenanti (June 18), coastal marshes near Sasak (19), Panti (20); trip to G. Singgalang, ascending from S. Tanang (July 5), summit region (6-7), ridge to Tandikat (7), descending from Danau (8) along road to Kota Tinggi; Tandikat, Kandang Empat (23), ascent of western slope (24), descending (25); Anei canyon (Aug. 4). W. Java: Tjibodas, plant sociological sample plot of 1 ha of forest between 1450-1500 m (Aug. 20-27)⁸. Sum. West Coast: trip to Manindjau, Matur-Manindjau (Nov. 11), Manindjau Lake, N. side (12), Batu Sangkar (21), Gunung Bungso near B. Sangkar (22), from Batu Sangkar to Sitangkai, Sawah Lunto and Singkarak (23), trip to Taluk, W. Indragiri (Centr. Sumatra) (24), limestone hills near Buo (26); trip to Tandjung Pauh, NE of Pajakumbuh (Dec. 9-10)¹¹.-1956. Sumatra West Coast. Many trips on N. slopes of G. Sago¹⁰, to summit along Air Kesimbukan above Padang Mengatas (March 16-18), along ridge above shelter between Bt Laku and Bt Pinago (June 18-20), same ridge with Jacobs (Aug. 19), and with Vermeulen (Dec. 15), crater (June 7). Centr. Sumatra, W. Indragiri trip (Jan. 4-26):¹² leaving Pajakumbuh (4), driving by way of Sitangkai, Muaro, Sidjungjung, Kilirandjau, to bivouac Dewan I in the hilly country between Lubuk Djambi and Kilirandjau near the western boundary of Indragiri; collecting in the vicinity, moving (14) to a bivouac near Taluk at Pulau Lawas on the river Air Hitam; moving to W. Sumatra: Sungei Langsat (24), collecting on a limestone hill, Bukit Lawang, near Siaur (25); return at Pajakumbuh (26); sandstone region Taram, Lubuk Bangku, NE of Pajakumbuh (Feb. 5); limestone caves near Buo (March 3). W. Java: Tjibodas (Apr. 15). Sumatra West Coast: trip to summit G. Singgalang (June 30-July 1); trip to Kerinchi: Indarung near Padang (July 14), P. Tinggi, Pintu Angin, Lubuk Selasih, Danau di Atas near Alahan Pandjang (5); together with M. Jacobs from Padang southwards along the coast (19), till S. Penuh (20), K. Aro, tea plantation (21), ascent of G. Kerinchi (= Kerintji)¹³, to bivouac Pondok Patjet at 2000 m alt. (22), towards shelter Padang Bungo at 3000 m (23), towards summit (3800 m) and back to Pondok Patjet (24), exploring forest in plant sociological sample plots at 2000 and 1700 In near Pondok Patjet and S. Kering (26-28), from K. Aro to Gunung Labu with Jansz (29), once more exploring the plant sociological plots (see above) (30-31, Aug. l, 3), once more to Padang Bungo (2), back to K. Aro and to base of G. Tudjuh (4), crater rim and lake of G. Tudjuh (5), back to K. Aro (6), exploring Rawah Bento (8-9), Air Panas and lake of Kerinchi (10), back to Padang-Pajakumbuh along Muaro Sako (11), Painan (12); trip to Harau-Lubuk Bangku, sandstone region NE of Pajakumbuh (15), G. Bungso, N of Pajakumbuh (16); G. Sago (18-19), and Jacobs returning to Java; G. Merapi, surroundings pasanggrahan ‘Amor naturae’, 1400 m (Nov. 18-19). Trips with Dr P. Vermeulen to Harau (Dec. 12), G. Sago (13-16), Karbau canyon, Matur, Manindjau (18), Manindjau, Tiku, Pariaman, Anei (19).-1957. Various trips on G. Sago, exploration of the region of Kp. Padang Pandjang and Si-kabu² between Pajakumbuh and G. Sago; Padang, Bungus, Painan, coastal flora at the bay and along Singkok (Feb. 22-24); various excursions for investigations of weeds in wet rice-fields in kabupaten Lima puluh Kota and Agam; Taram (Apr. 22, 30), Udjung guguk, Baso (27), Kota Baru (29), Karbau canyon (May 7); surroundings of Tandjong Djati and Suliki N of Pajakumbuh (8); trip to summit G. Singgalang (24-26); sandstone hills E of Taram (July 30), Lake Singkarak (Aug. 5); forest of Tjampo region, E of Taram (20-28), Bukit Bungso near Batu Sangkar (Sept. 7), Padang Simawang near Lake Singkarak (8). 1959. From May 20 in N. Borneo (Sabah):¹⁵ regions of Tawau (end of June-end of July), Sepilok F. R., W. coast regions (Padas Gorge and surroundings of Kinabalu); lower slopes of Kinabalu near Ranau and above Bundu Tahan and Tenompok (Oct. 27-Nov. 9); Darvel Bay near Lahad Datu (Nov. 15-19).-1960-61. Several times in the Kinabalu area,¹⁶ and short trip to Sarawak and Brunei (1961).-1962. Early in the year (Feb.) a 3-weeks tour on Mt Kinabalu with Prof. E. Abbe, R. Kaul, and Mr & Mrs Bogle of Minnesota (see those). Malaya: E. Johore to Kuala Trengganu (May 27-June 5), with K.M. Kochummen. N. Borneo: Mt Andrassy and near Quoin Hill, Tawau; Mt Trusmadi in Beaufort Distr.-1963. Mt Kinabalu and Mesilau R. (July) with Sleumer a.o.; in various other places in Sabah.-1964. In Jan. accompanying H.E. Moore in Sabah.-1966. Labuan.

Meijer’s collectors in Sabah; a.o. Kapis bin Sisiron and Kilang.

collections:

Herb. Bog. [BO]: c. 3000 nos of flowering plants and 6000 bryophytes; Herb. Fac. Agr. Pajakumbuh: c. 3000 nos of flowering plants; dupl. at Leiden [L], Sing. [SING], Kew [K], Brit. Mus. [BM], Berl. Dahl. [B], and Geneva [G].

The numbers of the more important collections run as follows: E. Borneo, Balik Papan region 460-1136, Tarakan-Nunukan 1851-2605; W. & Centr. Sumatra, W. Indragiri 4076-4454, Kerinchi 6063-6704, Taram-Tjampo region 6934-7094. Nos 1-176 and the above mentioned collections were numbered in the field; the others, also the bryophytes, after study, mainly chronologically.

The bryophytes are separately numbered, and besides preceded by a B.

Living orchids from E. Borneo and some plants from Sumatra (Padang Tinggi and Pajakumbuh) in Hort. Bog.

The Borneo plants numbered in the SAN series [SAN]; those from Malaya in the KEP series [KEP]; also dupl. in Herb. Edinb. [E].

literature: 

(1) J.H. Kern & W. Meijer: ‘Nogmaals de Rawah Tembaga’ (Med.-Blad Nat. Hist. Ver. Indon. 4, 1952, p. 5-7).

(2) Typed report on trip to Peak of Balikpapan and E. coast of Borneo near Samarinda in Libr. Herb. Bog. and Fl. Mal., 1953.

(3) W. Meijer:’`The fern Dipteris conjugate growing at sea-level along the east-coast of Borneo’ (Peng. Alam 34, 1954, p. 17-20, fig. 1-2); ‘Collecting bryophytes in Borneo’ (Bryol. 57, 1954, p. 261-272, 4 photogr.).

(4) Typed report on Nature Reserve Depok, in Libr. Herb. Bog. and Fl. Mal.

(5) W. Meijer: ‘Orchideeën jacht op West-Java' (Orchideeën n.s. 15, 1953, p. 4-6, etc.).

(6) W. Meijer: ‘Plantensociologische waarnemingen in de topregionen van Gede en Pangrango’ (Peng. Alam 34, 1954, p. 9-17); ‘Een bezoek aan de toppen van Gedeh en Pangrango’ (Buxbaumia 8, 1954, p. 41-48); typed report on some botanical investigations on Mt Gedeh-Pangrango, 1953, in Libr. Herb. Bog. and Fl. Mal.

(7) W. Meijer: ‘Orchideeën-waarnemingen in Oost-Borneo’(Orchideeën 16, 1954, p. 84-86; ibid. 17, 1955, p. 4-7). ‘Rottans van Nunukan’ (Pengg. Alam 36, 1957, p. 51-64, 5 fig.).

(8) W. Meijer: Typed check list of flora of Tjibodas, 1956, in Libr. Herb. Bog. and Fl. Mal.; ‘Op zoek naar de boomvarens van Tjibodas’ (Peng. Alam 35, 1955, p. 45-53, fig. 1-5).

(9) W. Meijer: ‘Een tournee naar Midden-Java’ (Buxbaumia 9, 1955, p. 11-17).

(10) Typed report on Mt Sago near Pajakumbuh, 1956, in Libr. Herb. Bog. and Fl. Mal. W. Meijer: ‘On the Flora of Mount Sago near Pajakumbuh, Central Sumatra’ (Pengg. Alam 38, 1959, p. 2-11, fig. 1-3; ibid. 40, 1961, p. 3-13, 3 fig.).

(11) W. Meijer: ‘Oriëntaties in Midden-Sumatra’ (Buxbaumia 10, 1956, p. 19-24); ‘Explorasi botanis di Sumatera tengah’ (Berita Fak. Pajakumbuh 1, 1956, p. 5-10, with Engl. summary).

(12) Typed report on W. Indragiri, 1956, in Libr. Herb. Bog. and Fl. Mal.

(13) W. Meijer: ‘Een tocht naar de top van de Kerinchi (3800 m)’ (Buxbaumia 11, 1957, p. 26-32).

(14) W. Meijer: ‘Notes on the Ecology of Sawah Plants in the region of Pajakumbuh’ (Res. Pamphl. no 2 Bot. Dept Fac. Agr. Pajakumbuh 1957, mimeogr., 7 pp. folio); ‘Some Notes on the Flora of the Taram-Harau Region etc.’ (ibid. no 3, 1958, mimeogr. 5 pp. folio).

(15) W. Meijer: ‘Notes on the Flora of Sepilok Forest Reserve 15 miles N of Sandakan’ (Forest Dept, Sandakan 1960, 12 + 19 pp. folio, stencilled).

(16) W. Meijer: ‘Plant life in Kinabalu National Park’ (Mal. Nat. J. 24, 1971, p. 184-189, pl. 61-62).

photo gallery: