Adolf Engler
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler (March 25, 1844 – October 10, 1930) was a German
botanist. He is notable for his work on plant taxonomy
and phytogeography
, like Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien (The natural plant families), edited with Karl A. E. von Prantl
.
Even now, his system of plant classification, the Engler System
, is still used by many herbaria
and is followed by writers of many manuals and floras. It is still the only system that treats all 'plants' (in the wider sense, algae
to flowering plants) in such depth.
Engler published a prodigious number of taxonomic works. He used various artists to illustrate his books, notably Joseph Pohl
(1864–1939), an illustrator who had served an apprenticeship as a wood-engraver. Pohl's skill drew Engler's attention, starting a collaboration of some forty years. Pohl produced more than 33 000 drawings in 6 000 plates for Die naturlichen pflanzenfamilien. He also illustrated Das pflanzenreich (1900–1953), Die pflanzenwelt Afrikas (1908–1910), Monographien afrikanischer pflanzenfamilien (1898–1904) and the journals Engler's Botanische jahrbucher.
He received the Linnean Medal
in 1913. The International Association for Plant Taxonomy
(IAPT) established the Engler Medal in his honour in 1986, to be awarded for outstanding contributions to plant taxonomy (see the list of Engler Medal awards).
The journal Englera (ISSN 0170-4818) published by the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden
, Germany is also named after him. Many genera (in various 'plant' groups) are named in his honour, such as Englerastrum, Englerella, Engleria, Englerina, Englerocharis, Englerodaphne, Englerodendron and Englerophytum.
, now Żagań
, in western Poland
as "Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler", and died in Berlin
, Germany
, on October 10, 1930).
He studied and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) in 1866. After some years of teaching he became, in 1871, custodian of botanical collections of the Botanische Institute der L.M.U. München (Botanical Institute of Munich), remaining there until 1878, when he accepted a professorship at the University of Kiel
, wherein he stayed until 1884 teaching Systematic Botany. Also in 1878, Engler was elected into Leopoldina
, German Academy of Natural History. He went back to Breslau in 1884, as director of the Botanical Garden, succeeding Goeppert, and appointed professor of Botany at University of Breslau. From 1889 to 1921 Engler was professor at University of Berlin, and director of the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden, transforming it into one of the greatest botanical gardens of the world.
He visited several regions of the world, enlarging the knowledge of floristic distribution, especially of Africa.
, Burseraceae
and others.
Adolf Engler collaborated with several other great botanists, including Alphonse de Candolle on the Monographiae Phanerogamarum (Monographs of flowering plants), and C.F.P. von Martius on the monumental work Flora Brasiliensis
(Flora of Brazil
).
He founded the journal Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie (Botanical yearbook for systematics, plant phylogeny and phytogeography; ISSN 0006-8152), published in Leipzig
, Germany, which has continued in publication since 1881 up to the present. In 2010 this publication changed its name to Plant diversity and evolution: Phylogeny, biogeography, structure and function; ISSN 1869-6155.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
botanist. He is notable for his work on plant taxonomy
Alpha taxonomy
Alpha taxonomy is the discipline concerned with finding, describing and naming species of living or fossil organisms. This field is supported by institutions holding collections of these organisms, with relevant data, carefully curated: such institutes include natural history museums, herbaria and...
and phytogeography
Phytogeography
Phytogeography , also called geobotany, is the branch of biogeography that is concerned with the geographic distribution of plant species...
, like Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien (The natural plant families), edited with Karl A. E. von Prantl
Karl Anton Eugen Prantl
Karl Anton Eugen Prantl , also known as Carl Anton Eugen Prantl, was a German botanist.Prantl was born in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, and studied in Munich. In 1870 he graduated with the dissertation Das Inulin. Ein Beitrag zur Pflanzenphysiologie...
.
Even now, his system of plant classification, the Engler System
Engler system
One of the prime systems of plant taxonomy, the Engler system was devised by Adolf Engler.According to Engler, Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien the main groups of plants are:* I. divisio Schizophyta* II. divisio Phytosarcodina...
, is still used by many herbaria
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
and is followed by writers of many manuals and floras. It is still the only system that treats all 'plants' (in the wider sense, algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
to flowering plants) in such depth.
Engler published a prodigious number of taxonomic works. He used various artists to illustrate his books, notably Joseph Pohl
Joseph Pohl
Joseph Pohl was a German botanical artist born in Breslau .Apprenticed as an engraver, Pohl collaborated with botanist Adolf Engler for over forty years on several of Engler's important works. Pohl's work is acclaimed for its accuracy and not its artistic quality...
(1864–1939), an illustrator who had served an apprenticeship as a wood-engraver. Pohl's skill drew Engler's attention, starting a collaboration of some forty years. Pohl produced more than 33 000 drawings in 6 000 plates for Die naturlichen pflanzenfamilien. He also illustrated Das pflanzenreich (1900–1953), Die pflanzenwelt Afrikas (1908–1910), Monographien afrikanischer pflanzenfamilien (1898–1904) and the journals Engler's Botanische jahrbucher.
He received the Linnean Medal
Linnean Medal
The Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888, and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist or a zoologist or to one of each in the same year...
in 1913. The International Association for Plant Taxonomy
International Association for Plant Taxonomy
The International Association for Plant Taxonomy promotes an understanding of plant biodiversity, facilitates international communication of research between botanists, and oversees matters of uniformity and stability in plant names . The IAPT was founded on July 18, 1950 at the Seventh...
(IAPT) established the Engler Medal in his honour in 1986, to be awarded for outstanding contributions to plant taxonomy (see the list of Engler Medal awards).
The journal Englera (ISSN 0170-4818) published by the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden in Berlin
Botanical Garden in Berlin is considered one of the most important gardens in the world, with area of 43 hectares and around 22,000 different plant species.The garden is located in the Dahlem neighborhood of the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf...
, Germany is also named after him. Many genera (in various 'plant' groups) are named in his honour, such as Englerastrum, Englerella, Engleria, Englerina, Englerocharis, Englerodaphne, Englerodendron and Englerophytum.
Biography
Adolf Engler was born on March 25, 1844 in Sagan, PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, now Żagań
Zagan
Zagan may refer to:*Zagan - a demon in the Ars Goetia*Żagań - a town in west Poland...
, in western Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
as "Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler", and died in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, on October 10, 1930).
He studied and obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) in 1866. After some years of teaching he became, in 1871, custodian of botanical collections of the Botanische Institute der L.M.U. München (Botanical Institute of Munich), remaining there until 1878, when he accepted a professorship at the University of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
, wherein he stayed until 1884 teaching Systematic Botany. Also in 1878, Engler was elected into Leopoldina
German Academy of Natural Scientists Leopoldina
The Leopoldina is the national academy of Germany.Historically it was known under the German name Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina until 2007, when it was declared the national academy of Germany.The Leopoldina is currently located in Halle...
, German Academy of Natural History. He went back to Breslau in 1884, as director of the Botanical Garden, succeeding Goeppert, and appointed professor of Botany at University of Breslau. From 1889 to 1921 Engler was professor at University of Berlin, and director of the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden, transforming it into one of the greatest botanical gardens of the world.
He visited several regions of the world, enlarging the knowledge of floristic distribution, especially of Africa.
Works
Plant taxonomy works
Besides his important work in General Plant Taxonomy, he was also an expert in some taxa such as Saxifraga, AraceaeAraceae
Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...
, Burseraceae
Burseraceae
Burseraceae is a moderate-sized family of 17-18 genera and about 540 species of flowering plants. The actual numbers differ according to the time period in which a given source is written describing this family. The Burseraceae is also known as the Torchwood family, the frankincense and myrrh...
and others.
Adolf Engler collaborated with several other great botanists, including Alphonse de Candolle on the Monographiae Phanerogamarum (Monographs of flowering plants), and C.F.P. von Martius on the monumental work Flora Brasiliensis
Flora Brasiliensis
Flora Brasiliensis is a book published between 1840 and 1906 by the editors Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius, August Wilhelm Eichler, Ignatz Urban and many others...
(Flora of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
).
He founded the journal Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie (Botanical yearbook for systematics, plant phylogeny and phytogeography; ISSN 0006-8152), published in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Germany, which has continued in publication since 1881 up to the present. In 2010 this publication changed its name to Plant diversity and evolution: Phylogeny, biogeography, structure and function; ISSN 1869-6155.
- Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien (The natural plant families), edited with Karl A. E. Prantl, with the collaboration of many notable experts, 1887–1915, 23 volumes. This enormous series is one of the very few detailed works (since Linnaeus) to attempt the classification of 'plants' from algae to flowering plants, and constitutes an invaluable work. A second, incomplete edition is being produced (starting in 1924, latest release 1995 by Duncker und Humblot Verlag, Berlin) .
- Das Pflanzenreich (The plant kingdom), with the collaboration of many notable experts, 1900-1968. This is a monographic series on the plant kingdom that is presently incomplete .
- Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien, in the 12th ed., edited by H. Melchior & E. Werdermann, with the collaboration of many notable experts, 1954-1964. This is the most recent summary of the Engler System and gives descriptions of the higher taxonomic levels. In two volumes
Phytogeographic works
He was one of the pioneers in this field of science, highlighting the importance of factors like geology on biodiversity, and defined Biogeographical Regions in 1879.- Vegetation der Erde (Vegetation of the earth) 1896, with O. DrudeCarl Georg Oscar DrudeCarl Georg Oscar Drude was a German botanist.- References :...
. - Die pflanzenwelt Ost-Afrikas und der nachbargebiete (The plant world of Eastern Africa and the adjacent regions) , 1895 (available at Botanicus.org)
See also
- Biogeographic Regions
- Engler SystemEngler systemOne of the prime systems of plant taxonomy, the Engler system was devised by Adolf Engler.According to Engler, Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien the main groups of plants are:* I. divisio Schizophyta* II. divisio Phytosarcodina...
- List of plants of Caatinga vegetation of Brazil
- List of plants of Cerrado vegetation of Brazil
- Phylogenetic System