Scientist René-Louis Desfontaines (1750-1833)

France - Paris

Born in Tremblay (Ille et Vilaine), he became a doctor before studying the natural history under the direction of Bernard de Jussieu. He published various botanical work. Admitted in 1783 at the Academy of Sciences, which he was president in the year XIII (1804-1805). Member of the Academy of Medicine. With the support of Louis-Guillaume Le Monnier, he went to North Africa where he studied the flora of the coast of Barbary. He brought a considerable herbarium and many objects of natural history. It is the report of his journey in his Atlantic Flora (1798), 2 vols. in-4, with boards. In 1786, he succeeded Le Monnier botany chair of the Garden of the King where he promoted plant physiology.

Bibliography:

• (la) Flora atlantica, sive Historia plantarum, quae in Atlante, agro tunetano et algeriensi crescunt, Blanchon (Parisiis), 1800:
  • Tomus 1 avalaible on Gallica
  • Tomus 2 avalaible on Gallica

Species:

• 1798: Iris scorpioides,

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Interested in French irises ? Please visit: France Iris | Société Française des Iris et plantes Bulbeuses (french language).

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