Species Ansellia congoensis

For John Ansell (?–1847), British plant collector, gardener and assistant botanist. He joined a three-ship expedition to the Niger in 1841. He travelled on the Wilberforce with botanist Dr Theodor Vogel and naturalist Lewis Frazer. The expedition should have reached the Niger in March, the dry season, but due to delays, only reached the Niger in August. Deaths from malaria and other illnesses increased rapidly once they were on the river. As a result, of the 145 Europeans who took part in the expedition, 53 ultimately perished mostly of fever. The ships lost too many crew to function properly. With difficulty they reached the island of Fernando Po where Ansell found his plant. He returned to England, very ill with fever, and died 5 years later.