Carl von Linne ( 1707 - 1778 )

Among the first outstanding systematic botanists, CARL VON LINNE (known acadamically as Linnaeus ) was certainly the most famous . Orchidology as a study was yet nonexistent in the eighteenth century ; only as recently as 1731 had the first tropical orchid (Bletia verecunda) been carried back to England from one of the colonial outposts in the Bahamas . All plants interested Linnaeus , however , and by his remarkable accuracy of observation and philosophical mind, he became the most eminent naturalist -botanist of his time. His arrangement of plants based on a system of sexual relationships prepared the way for many later systems of classification.

Carl von Linne was born near Stenbrohult , in the province Smaland ,Sweden , on 24 May 1707. He developed an early interest in botany and physiology , but his father , a Lutheran minister of small monetary means, was unable to further his son's interests . Neverthless , in 1727 Linnaeus began the study of medicine at Lund, entering Upsala University the following year. Poverty continued to hinder him but through the assistance of Olaf Rudbeck he was able to continue his studies . In the meantime he was curator of the botanical gardens at the university .

In 1732 Linnaeus was given government aid to make a study of the flora of Sweden and Lapland , and soon thereafter he published his Lapland Flora . Later he studied mineralogy at Fablun and in 1735 received a degree from the Harderwyk University in Holland . During his stay in Holland Linnaeus became associated with many eminent naturalists and , as a result of his botanical researches , especially as relating to plant classification , he occasionally announced original discoveries . His greatest and most important contribution was the development of the nominal system of nomenclature for scinentific names of plants and animals-a " tool" which was widely adopted , revolutionzing all branches of biology .

His first treatise on orchids appeared as " Species Orchidum" in Acta Societatis Regiae Scientiarum , Upsala , 1740. In this work he established , for the first time on record , technical names for orchid genera and species . Those genera listed were Cypripedium ,Epidendrum , Limodorum , Liparis , Ophrys , Orchis , and Serapias . The species given were Cypripedium calceolus , Habenaria viridis (as Satyrium viride) , Orchis coriophora , Orchis macula, and Serapias rubra .

After visits to Germany ,France, and England , linnaeus became president of Stockholm Academy and in 1741 was made professor of medicine in Upsala . The following year saw him accept the professorship of botany .

In 1753 his important work Species Plantarum was published , in which he introduced his sexual system founded on the number and position of the stamens and pistils in plants. There was no designation of plant families as such , but all the orchis were placed in class XX under two categories : Gynadria (stamens adnate to the pistol ) and Diandria (two stamens present ). In this first edition he listed eight genera of orchids, including fifty-nine species within those genera.

In his Genera Plantarum (1754) the eight orchid genera then known were described at length . His diagnose were commonly based on the descriptions by older botanists and herbalists, on the dried ,specimens of Clayton from Virginia , on the common species of Europe , and on his own earlier works . Throughout this work he adhered strictly to the binary system of nomenclature , ie., the generic name (such as Orchis ) followed by the specific name (as spectabilis ) . Of the eight genera described , all but Epidendrum were based on native European orchids the were entirely terrestrial . The genus Epidendrum designed specifically to encompass epiphytic orchids and included Vanilla , Arachnis , Luisia ,Vanda , Brassavola , Broughtonia , Dendrobium , Cymbidium , Oncidium , Phlaenopsis , and Rhynchostylis .

Other of his works include The Natural System , Fundamental Botany , and Philosophy of Botany.

He died on 10 January 1778.

References

Dillon , Gordon W. 1956. Some principles and family background . Understanding the orchid family -I. Amer . Orch.Soc. Bull . 25, no. 10

Garay , Leslie A.and Sweet ,Herman R. 1966. Orchid Stamp News . 2 , no. 2.

Vermeulen ,P. 1953. Orchis spectabilis L. The American Speceis of Orchis -I.

Amer .Orch. Soc. Bull . 22, no.6.

Worldscope Encyclopedia . 1953.Unabridged .Vol. 7. New York: The Universal Guide, Inc.