Jean Jules Linden
Encyclopedia
Jean Jules Linden was a Belgian
botanist and explorer, horticulturist and businessman, specialising in orchids, on which subject he wrote a number of books.
Jean Linden studied at the Athénée Royal in Luxembourg until 1834, and went on to the faculty of science at the Free University of Brussels
. In 1835 Jean Linden put forward his name when the Belgian government invited applications from academic circles for an exploration of Latin America
. As a result, Jean Linden, Nicolas Funck (1816-1896), and Auguste Ghiesbreght (1810-1893) left Antwerp on 25 September 1835 for Rio de Janeiro
and arrived in Brazil
on 27 December. They remained in Brazil, collecting plants and animals, returning to Belgium in March 1837. As a result of this trip, Linden's lifelong preoccupation with orchids was born.
A mere six months later, in September 1837, the same trio left Le Havre
and reached Havana
in December. The team explored Cuba and Mexico, collecting live animals and plants, until 1840. Linden suffered an acute attack of yellow fever
when in the vicinity of Laguna de Términos
.
He went on several expeditions and made a detailed study of orchid growth conditions in their natural habitat. His findings revolutionised the cultivation of orchids under European conditions. Before his research, orchids were being kept at temperatures far greater than their needs, resulting in a high mortality rate. Following Linden's lead, British botanist John Lindley
also made detailed observations of the habitats where he collected plants.
In Brussels, Linden became for a brief while director of the Brussels zoological and botanical garden, but gradually concentrated on orchid culture, making use of three types of conservatory with temperatures ranging from cool to warm. Under these conditions his orchids thrived. With this success, he created an orchid empire which at its peak had branches in Brussels
, Ghent
and Paris
, winning awards at exhibitions in London
, Paris
and St. Petersburgh. He published exceptional books on orchids and orchid-growing.
Linden married Anna Reuter in Luxembourg
on 13 October 1845. His son Lucien eventually took over all his business interests and published books on orchids before and after Jean's death.
He is commemorated in Iresine lindenii (Amaranthaceae
), Phalaenopsis lindenii
(Orchidaceae
) and Polyrrhiza lindenii, also in the Orchidaceae.
This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Linden when citing
a botanical name
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
botanist and explorer, horticulturist and businessman, specialising in orchids, on which subject he wrote a number of books.
Jean Linden studied at the Athénée Royal in Luxembourg until 1834, and went on to the faculty of science at the Free University of Brussels
Free University of Brussels
The Free University of Brussels was a university in Brussels, Belgium. In 1969, it split into the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel....
. In 1835 Jean Linden put forward his name when the Belgian government invited applications from academic circles for an exploration of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. As a result, Jean Linden, Nicolas Funck (1816-1896), and Auguste Ghiesbreght (1810-1893) left Antwerp on 25 September 1835 for Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
and arrived in 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...
on 27 December. They remained in Brazil, collecting plants and animals, returning to Belgium in March 1837. As a result of this trip, Linden's lifelong preoccupation with orchids was born.
A mere six months later, in September 1837, the same trio left Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
and reached Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
in December. The team explored Cuba and Mexico, collecting live animals and plants, until 1840. Linden suffered an acute attack of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
when in the vicinity of Laguna de Términos
Laguna de Términos
Laguna de Términos is made up of a series of rich, sediment-laden lagoons and tidal estuaries connected by two channels to the Bay of Campeche in the southern part of Gulf of Mexico, in Carmen Municipality in the southwestern part of the Mexican state of Campeche. Its shores are swampy and support...
.
He went on several expeditions and made a detailed study of orchid growth conditions in their natural habitat. His findings revolutionised the cultivation of orchids under European conditions. Before his research, orchids were being kept at temperatures far greater than their needs, resulting in a high mortality rate. Following Linden's lead, British botanist John Lindley
John Lindley
John Lindley FRS was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist.-Early years:Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley was a nurseryman and pomologist and ran a commercial nursery garden...
also made detailed observations of the habitats where he collected plants.
In Brussels, Linden became for a brief while director of the Brussels zoological and botanical garden, but gradually concentrated on orchid culture, making use of three types of conservatory with temperatures ranging from cool to warm. Under these conditions his orchids thrived. With this success, he created an orchid empire which at its peak had branches in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, winning awards at exhibitions in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and St. Petersburgh. He published exceptional books on orchids and orchid-growing.
Linden married Anna Reuter in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
on 13 October 1845. His son Lucien eventually took over all his business interests and published books on orchids before and after Jean's death.
He is commemorated in Iresine lindenii (Amaranthaceae
Amaranthaceae
The flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family, contains about 176 genera and 2,400 species.- Description :Most of these species are herbs or subshrubs; very few are trees or climbers. Some species are succulent....
), Phalaenopsis lindenii
Phalaenopsis lindenii
Phalaenopsis lindenii is a species of plant in the Orchidaceae family. It is endemic to the island of Luzon, Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
(Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
) and Polyrrhiza lindenii, also in the Orchidaceae.
This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Linden when citing
Author citation (botany)
In botanical nomenclature, author citation refers to citing the person who validly published a botanical name, i.e. who first published the name while fulfilling the formal requirements as specified by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature...
a botanical name
Botanical name
A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants...
.