Phalaenopsis Drawings from the Reichenbach Herbarium in the Natural History Museum , Vienna
Phalaenopsis Drawings from the Reichenbach Herbarium in the Natural History Museum , Vienna
H einrich Gustav Reichenbach ( 1824 – 1889 ) has described probably more orchids than any other botanist in the world . He was born on January 3 , 1824 in Dresden , the son of the Privy Court Councilor Heinrich Gottlieb Ludewig Reichenbach ( 1793 – 1879 ). His father was professor of natural history at the Medico- Surgical Academy , director of the Botanical Gardens and the Natural History Museum in Dresden . After graduating , Easter 1843 , from Besuch des Gymnasiums ( Kreuzschule ), and he then traveled to France , Switzerland , Northern Italy , and Germany . He had opportunities to meet many outstanding scientists . In 1844 , he began the study of medicine and natural sciences at the Medical-Surgical Academy in Dresden and continued his studies ( 1844 – 1847 ) at the University of Leipzig . Reichenbach helped his father with the publication of Flora Saxonica while in high school and he wrote a variety of other works . He became interested in orchids while he worked as a lecturer at the Academy of Forestry in Tharandt ( 1848 – 1850 ). In 1851 , he dedicated his time to the completion of Orchidographia Europea , which covered all of Europe including the orchids of the Mediterranean region and the Asian part of Russia . In 1852 , Reichenbach was appointed Venia legendi ( Associate Professor ) at the University of Leipzig , where he completed his work De Polliniis Orchidearum Genesi ac Structura et de Orchideis in Artem ac Systema Redigendi and worked as a Private lecturer ( Privatdozent ). Additionally , he continued his involvement in the Icones Florae Germanicæ , founded by his father and wrote numerous articles for orchid clients . In 1855 , he was appointed Professor Extraordinaire at the University of Leipzig and curator of its herbarium . Differences with the university
26
Olaf Gruss
directors caused him in 1860 to apply for the director of the botanical garden in Hamburg to be the successor of J . G . Chr . Lehmann . Finally , in 1863 , he was appointed and moved to Hamburg , where he developed the botanical garden into a model institution . His aim was to become a full professor at one of the largest German universities but it did not come about . Reichenbach ’ s great love was his herbarium , begun by his father , which he continuously expanded . It became the largest private herbarium of his time with about 420,000 specimens , approximately 70,000 of which belonged to the orchid family . During his time in Hamburg , Reichenbach made many trips to Belgium , England and France to study other collections . Often he was involved as a judge of major horticultural exhibitions . A large portion of his time was dedicated to the determination of the orchid samples that arrived almost daily from botanical gardens in Germany , Britain , France and Belgium . Dried flower materials were the basis for the description of many new species . In addition , he met with orchid collectors from all over the world , among them Wagener , Schlim , Roezl , Wallis and Lehmann . Different orchid companies such as Sanders & Low sent him fresh flowers directly from imports in the hope that a new species would be described . Usually Reichenbach was willing to comply with the wishes of the sender when naming species , but not always . He wrote to Burbidge , concerning one of the new Phalaenopsis species that Burbidge wanted named to honor his wife as Phal . mariae , “ I have always declined to name plants in honor of ladies whom I have never seen , and , who do not , so far as I know , were in any special relation to plants .” Subsequently , Warner & Williams followed Burbidge ’ s wishes with the description of the Phal . mariae . Many of Reichenbach ’ s
Third Quarter , Vol . 22 ( 1 & 2 ) 2012 - Phalaenopsis