British botanist. Tweedie was one of the first botanists to explore Argentina, which had been difficult to access while under Spanish control in the 18th century, (Joseph Banks twice attempted to get permission for collectors in Buenos Aires, but was denied). When the country became independent in 1816 it was possible for outsiders to enter its borders, but moving around was fraught with danger due to continuing political unrest; there were no fewer than 15 changes of government in the space of seven months in 1820, for example. Tweedie's explorations, which only began after he had passed the age of 50, were an impressive feat and provided material for Hooker and Arnott's work on the flora of South America.
James Tweedie was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, where he trained in horticulture, rising to be head gardener at Edinburgh Botanic Garden. He also worked on estates including Castle Hill (Ayrshire), Sundrum, Blairquhan and Eglinton Castle. In 1825, rather than settling into a snug life at the latter, he followed an irresistible urge to go to South America, where he had heard there were botanical riches. Arriving in Argentina, he settled in Santa Catalina and continued to practice his craft, though he also ran a store in the city and spent long periods exploring and collecting plants.
On his first recorded journey, in 1832, he accompanied British envoy H.S. Fox 60 miles up the River Uruguay and from the mouth of the river northwards up the coast to Rio, stopping off at every point possible to collect plants from hills and valleys. His next journey was not so smooth, however, travelling on a small vessel bound for Patagonia, which grounded on a sandbank and took nearly three weeks to reach Bahia Blanca, while only carrying enough provisions for one week.
Tweedie's next destination was inland, joining a large caravan heading for Tucumán. indigenous people, dangerous animals, dried-up rivers and others in uncrossable spate, were all encountered, as well as strong native women who would pull rafts across waterways holding the tow-ropes in their teeth. Despite the discoveries he made along the way, he found the caravan's progress painfully slow. From Tucumán he made a trip to the snow-capped Cordilleras and despite being late for the seed harvest, still managed to send a box of seeds from the area to W.D. Hooker in Glasgow, including Blumenbachia lateritia (Hook.) Griseb. (syn. Caiophora lateritia Benth.) and Passiflora tucumanensis Hook.
On his return to Buenos Aires, Tweedie reported that his acquaintances did not recognise him, his appearance was so bedraggled. He went on several more collecting adventures, even in his seventies, sending seeds and specimens back to botanic gardens in Glasgow, Liverpool and Dublin, as well as Kew, though he never returned to Britain himself. He introduced many plants to Europe, including the tree tomato, Solanum betaceum Cav. and is commemorated in the genus Tweedia Hook. & Arn.
