Scientist; Carl Ludwig Willdenow (1765-1812)

German botanist, pharmacist, and plant taxonomist (classification of plants and animals). He is considered one of the founders of phytogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of plants. Willdenow was a director of the Botanical Garden of Berlinfrom 1801 until his death. There he studied many South American plants, brought back by the explorer Alexander von Humboldt. He was interested in the adaptation of plants to climate, showing that the same climate had plants having common characteristics. His herbarium, containing more than 20,000 species, is still preserved in the Botanical Garden in Berlin.

Also see hybridizer Karl Willdenow, for botanical author listings.

Iris publications:

Willdenow, K. L., (1813), Enum. Hort. Berol. Supp;. 4. I. acuta.

-- Main.RPries - 2012-05-18