Biography

Ecuadorian botanist and teacher, Reinaldo Espinosa was born in Malvas in the Canton of Zaruma in El Oro province and worked as a professor at the University of Loja. In his early years his academic talent shone through, awarding him a scholarship to study at the Instituto Normal 'Juan Montalvo' and so he moved from the south of Ecuador to Quito in 1913 to attend the establishment. Here he studied under many European scholars and, on graduating, went on to teach there himself, imparting his wisdom in the fields of history, geography and anthropology. Following two years spent teaching at the Escuela 9 de octubre in Guayaquil (1923-1925) he returned to Quito to lecture in various schools while studying at the Central University.

In 1928-1929 he specialised in education and the German language and after completing his course moved to Germany with a scholarship from the Ecuadorian government to study physics, botany and biology at the University of Jena. Awarded his PhD in 1932 his thesis was on the anatomy and morphology of plants in the Ecuadorian Andes. On his return to Ecuador Espinosa became rector of his old school, Juan Montalvo, and was soon named minister for education (1935).

In 1939 he would return to Germany, first to represent his country at the agricultural congress and later, during the Second World War; his knowledge in the fields of agricultural and economic botany proved useful in Berlin where he worked in a journalistic capacity, using his knowledge of Spanish and German to communicate topics of scientific interest. Luckily at the break up of Germany the municipal government in Zaruma managed to arrange his safe passage to the U.S.A. and from there via Colombia to his friends, family and beloved plants in Ecuador, and to rest from the horrors he had witnessed.

Back in southern Ecuador Espinosa began working at the botanic gardens in Loja and, named a professor at the University of Loja in 1946, he enjoyed a period of fruitful scientific endeavour. He published his "Contribuciones al Conocimiento de la Vegetacion y de la Flora de Ecuador" with descriptions of species and the current state of soil and plant conservation in his country. Locally he laboured passionately to determine the causes of environmental degradation and promote the sustainable use of natural resources and as deacon of the University tried to enhance their teaching practices.

Also a professor of genetics, Espinosa was interested in the germplasms of various local genera, including Solanum L. and Ipomoea L. and particularly disease resistance in tomatoes. Amongst his most important works are two volumes of the Estudios Botánicos en El Sur del Ecuador (published in 1948 and 1949), describing the plants of Ecuador from every ecosystem. Unfortunately his time at Loja was shorter than he might have hoped, being called back to the capital in order to direct the Polytechnic School. A short time after his death in 1952 the botanic gardens at the University of Loja were named in is honour and many species epithets are also adorned with his name, including Paepalanthus espinosianus Moldenke, Daphnosis espinosa Monanchino and Miconia espinosana Gl.

Sources:
F. Vivar Castro, 1997, "Prologo biografico a la segunda edicion", In: R. Espinosa, Estudios Botánicos en El Sur del EcuadorSegunda Edición.