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Wichura, Max Ernst (1817-1866)

Date Updated: 19 April 2013

Herbarium
Natural History Museum (BM)
Collection
Plant Collectors
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Contributor
Natural History Museum (BM)
First name(s)
Max Ernst
Last name
Wichura
Initials
M.E.
Life Dates
1817 - 1866
Collecting Dates
1856 - 1862
Specification
Plant collector
Groups collected
Bryophytes Fungi Spermatophytes
Organisation(s)
B (main), WRSL (main), BM, BR, FH, G, H, HBG, KIEL, L, LE, LUX, W
Countries
West African Islands: MadeiraChinese region: China, SingaporeNorth Africa: EgyptIndian region: IndiaJapanese region: JapanMalesian region: Malaysia, PhilippinesEurope: Sweden, United Kingdom
Associate(s)
Darwin, Charles Robert (1809-1882) (correspondent)
Martens, Eduard (Karl) von (1831-1904) (co-collector)
Richthofen, Ferdinand von (1833-1905) (co-collector)
Schottmüller, Otto (-1864) (co-collector)
Biography
Max Ernst Wichura, German lawyer and botanist, was an expert on the genus Salix. A pioneer in the study of plant hybridisation, he experimentally recreated many naturally occuring hybrids. Darwin corresponded with Wichura regarding hybridisation and Gregor Mendel was also familiar with his work, using it to help formulate his theory of inheritance. Much of the original material collected by Wichura at the Berlin Botanic Garden herbarium, including his collections from the Prussian expedition to East Asia, was destroyed in the Second World War. Rosa wichuraiana Crép. was named in his honour, based on collections of living plants sent from Japan during the expedition.
References
Brummitt, R.K. & Powell, C.E., Authors Pl. Names (1992): 703; Vegter, H.I., Index Herb. Coll. T-Z (1988): 1151;
Wichura, Max Ernst (1817-1866)
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