René Maire
Encyclopedia
René Charles Joseph Ernest Maire (1878, Lons-le-Saunier
— 1949) was a French botanist and mycologist. His major work was the Flore de l'Afrique du Nord in 16 volumes published posthumously in 1953. He collected plants from Algeria, Morocco, France, and Mali for the herbarium of the National Botanic Garden of Belgium
.
, currently on display at the Natural History Museum of Gray
. He collected plants for study in Algeria
and Morocco
between 1902 and 1904. After obtaining his PhD in 1905, he was a professor of botany at the Faculty of Sciences in Algiers
starting in 1911 where he specialised in phytopathology
. He was put in charge of botanical research by the Moroccan government and was responsible for botanical studies in the Central Sahara. He was a member of a number of institutions, including the Société mycologique de France and the Société d'histoire naturelle de la Moselle based in Metz
, which he joined in 1897 at the start of his career. He was the author of numerous works, including important contributions between 1918 and 1931 on the flora of North Africa. He ended his career as the Rector of the University of Algiers
. His magnum opus
was The Flora of North Africa, a 16-volume work published posthumously in 1953.
He also erected the family Paxillaceae
, noting its affinities with bolete
s, in 1902, based on anatomical similarities. This was confirmed many years later by molecular studies firmly placing the genera Paxillus
and Gyrodon
at the base of the clade containing the members of the genus Boletus
.
), René Maire's ringless Amanita (Amanita mairei) from Egypt, Clitocybe mairei, Conocybe mairei, Clavicorona mairei, Cortinarius mairei, Galerina mairei, Hemimycena mairei, and Lactarius mairei, among others, as well as some North African plants such as the ornamental grass Atlas fescue (Festuca mairei). The genus Mairetis (Boraginaceae
) is also named after him.
Lons-le-Saunier
Lons-le-Saunier is a commune and capital of the Jura department in eastern France.-Geography:The town is in the heart of the Revermont region, at the foot of the "premier plateau" of the Jura massif...
— 1949) was a French botanist and mycologist. His major work was the Flore de l'Afrique du Nord in 16 volumes published posthumously in 1953. He collected plants from Algeria, Morocco, France, and Mali for the herbarium of the National Botanic Garden of Belgium
National Botanic Garden of Belgium
The National Botanic Garden of Belgium is located in the grounds of Bouchout Castle near the village of Meise, just north of Brussels. It is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world with an extensive collection of living plants in addition to a herbarium of over 3 million specimens...
.
Biography
His botanical career began very early. At 18, he penned a work on the local flora of the Haute-SaôneHaute-Saône
Haute-Saône is a French department of the Franche-Comté région, named after the Saône River.- History :The department was created in the early years of the French Revolution through the application of a law dated 22 December 1789, from part of the former province of Franche-Comté...
, currently on display at the Natural History Museum of Gray
Gray, Haute-Saône
Gray is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Franche-Comté in eastern France. It has a population of 6,175 inhabitants .-Geography:Gray is situated on the banks of the Saône River...
. He collected plants for study in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
between 1902 and 1904. After obtaining his PhD in 1905, he was a professor of botany at the Faculty of Sciences in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
starting in 1911 where he specialised in phytopathology
Phytopathology
Plant pathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens and environmental conditions . Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, phytoplasmas, protozoa, nematodes and parasitic plants...
. He was put in charge of botanical research by the Moroccan government and was responsible for botanical studies in the Central Sahara. He was a member of a number of institutions, including the Société mycologique de France and the Société d'histoire naturelle de la Moselle based in Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, which he joined in 1897 at the start of his career. He was the author of numerous works, including important contributions between 1918 and 1931 on the flora of North Africa. He ended his career as the Rector of the University of Algiers
University of Algiers
The University of Algiers Benyoucef Benkhedda is a university located in Algiers, Algeria. It was founded in 1909 and is organized into seven faculties.-History:...
. His magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
was The Flora of North Africa, a 16-volume work published posthumously in 1953.
Named Species
Among species he named or renamed are:- Amanita codinae (Maire) Singer
- Argyrocytisus battandieri (Maire) Raynaud
- Campanula monodiana Maire
- Gymnopilus sapineusGymnopilus sapineusGymnopilus sapineus, commonly known as Scaly Rustgill, is a small and widely distributed mushroom which grows in dense clusters on dead conifer wood. It has a rusty orange spore print and a bitter taste...
(Fr.) Maire - Hygrophoropsis aurantiacaHygrophoropsis aurantiacaHygrophoropsis aurantiaca, commonly known as the False Chanterelle, is an orange funnel-shaped mushroom which has been confused at times with the true chanterelles, however recent work shows its affinity lies with the Boletes in the order Boletales.-Description:The False chanterelle has an orange...
(Wulfen: Fr.) Maire - Hygrophorus reai Maire
- Hypomyces vuilleminianus Maire
- Laccaria bicolorLaccaria bicolorLaccaria bicolor is a small tan colored mushroom with lilac gills. Like others in its genus it has the common name of 'Deceiver', because of its propensity to fade and become hard to identify. It is edible, but not worthwhile, and grows in mixed birch and pine woods. It is found in the temperate...
(Maire) P.D. Orton - Lentinellus vulpinus (Fr.) Maire & Kühner
- Psathyrella candolleanaPsathyrella candolleanaPsathyrella candolleana is a large mushroom commonly found on lawns or pasture. The coloring varies between white, golden and dark brown, however the shape is consistent: medium sized , conical when young; large, flat and sprawling with maturity....
(Fr.) Maire - Psathyrella hydrophila (Fr.) Maire
- Xeromphalina campanellaXeromphalina campanellaXeromphalina campanella is a species of mushroom. The common names of the species include the golden trumpet and the bell Omphalina. The genus name Xeromphalina means "little dry navel" and campanella means "bell-shaped", respectively describing the mature and young shapes of the pileus, or cap...
(Bataille: Fr.) Maire & Kühner
He also erected the family Paxillaceae
Paxillaceae
The Paxillaceae are a family of mushrooms bearing close affinity to the Boletes. Collectively, the family contains nine genera and 78 species. The type genus is Paxillus, containing fungi with decurrent gills, and Gyrodon, which has members with decurrent pores, among others...
, noting its affinities with bolete
Bolete
A bolete is a type of fungal fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe, with a spongy surface of pores on the underside of the pileus...
s, in 1902, based on anatomical similarities. This was confirmed many years later by molecular studies firmly placing the genera Paxillus
Paxillus
Paxillus is a genus of mushrooms of which most are known to be poisonous or inedible. The widespread genus contains 15 species. Species include Paxillus involutus and Paxillus vernalis...
and Gyrodon
Gyrodon
Gyrodon is a genus of pored mushroom bearing close affinity to the genus Paxillus. Recent molecular research has confirmed this relationship of the two genera as sister groups, together lying near the base of a phylogenetic tree from which the genus Boletus arises.Species include Gyrodon lividus of...
at the base of the clade containing the members of the genus Boletus
Boletus
Boletus is a genus of mushroom, comprising over 100 species. The genus Boletus was originally broadly defined and described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1821, essentially containing all fungi with pores...
.
Legacy
Several species were named in his honour, including fungi such as the beechwood sickener (Russula maireiRussula mairei
Formerly Russula mairei , and commonly known as the beechwood sickener, the now re-classified fungus Russula nobilis is a basidiomycete mushroom of the genus Russula...
), René Maire's ringless Amanita (Amanita mairei) from Egypt, Clitocybe mairei, Conocybe mairei, Clavicorona mairei, Cortinarius mairei, Galerina mairei, Hemimycena mairei, and Lactarius mairei, among others, as well as some North African plants such as the ornamental grass Atlas fescue (Festuca mairei). The genus Mairetis (Boraginaceae
Boraginaceae
Boraginaceae, the Borage or Forget-me-not family, include a variety of shrubs, trees, and herbs, totaling about 2,000 species in 146 genera found worldwide.A number of familiar plants belong to this family....
) is also named after him.