A Tree-mendous Life

Plant collector and doctor Archibald Menzies travelled the world in the 18th century treating patients and documenting fascinating species

- KENNY MacASKILL

I'M a huge fan of monkey puzzle trees, and always pause to admire their exotic shape when I come across them in botanical gardens or elsewhere. I confess to having been slightly disappointed to discover that they had no relationship whatsoever with monkeys - but that was offset by my delight in learning that it was a Scot who had brought them to the UK.

They weren't of course discovered by him; they are native to Chile and southern Argentina, and have been around for millions of years. However the man who introduced them to these shores brought them back with him from an epic sail around the world in 1795. It was just one of many adventures and botanical discoveries made by a truly remarkable man.

Archibald Menzies (pronounced in the Scots way of "Ming-Iss") was born in 1754 at Weem, near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, one of nine children. His father, James, was head gardener at Castle Menzies, and all four sons inherited their father's green fingers and horticultural passion. Archibald started his career working with his father before moving to join his brother Robert, who was principal gardener at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, at that time sited at the top of Leith Walk.

There he was taken under the wing of its superintendent Dr John Hope, who was professor of botany at Edinburgh University. As well as nurturing his talent for botany, he also persuaded Menzies to study medicine at his academic institution.

At that time the two subjects were closely linked, as so many medicines were natural rather than pharmaceutical.