Heinrich Zollinger was born in Feuerthalen, Switzerland. After teacher training in Küsnacht, in 1837 he began studying botany at the University of Geneva, under Augustin and Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle. Unable to fund his studies, however, in 1838 he returned to work as a schoolteacher in Herzogenbuchsee, where he met his wife.

Zollinger returned to botany in 1841 when the Dutch government appointed him official plant collector in Java. During the course of his extensive exploration of the country he collected plants in locations including Mount Tambora, a volcano which was still smoking following an eruption in 1815. As well as his botanical work, he published articles on geology, meteorology and molluscs.

Disappointed to be passed over for the position of Curator of the Buitenzorg Botanical Gardens, Zollinger returned to Switzerland in 1848 and was appointed director of the teacher training college in Küsnacht. He returned to Java in 1855, to collect plants by subscription. In addition, he became deputy director of a coconut plantation company.

While collecting in Kandangan, Zollinger fell ill with malaria, and died there in 1859. He had collected about 4,000 numbers, chiefly vascular plants, but also algae, bryophytes and lichens. Geneva, Leiden and Utrecht took possession of most of his collections. More than 20 species bear the epithet zollingerii in his honour.

Sources:
G. Sayre, 1975, "Cryptogamae Exsiccatae: an annotated bibliography of exsiccatae of algae, lichens, hepaticae, and musci. V. Unpublished Exsiccatae: I. Collectors", Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden, 19(3): 419
M.J. van Steenis Kruseman, "Cyclopedia of Collectors", Flora Malesiana, online edn:
www.nationaalherbarium.nl/FMCollectors/Z/ZollingerH.htm, accessed 21 August 2012
H. Wanner, Heinrich Zollinger 1818-1859, ein Zürcher Schulmann als Naturforscher und Pflanzer in Indonesien: sein Leben und seine Zeit
H. Zollinger, 1854-1855, Systematisches Verzeichniss der im Indischen Archipel in 1842-48 gesammelten sowie der aus Japan empfangenen Pflanzen
Zollinger Family History - Heinrich Zollinger:
www.zollinger-genealogy.com/FamousZollingers/heinrichzollinger.php, accessed 24 August.