The Mojave Suncup, Camissonia Brevipes
An example of a genus named after the botanist
Today we celebrate the birthday of Adelbert von Chamisso (January 30 1781- August 21, 1838), the German poet and botanist. He was born in a chateau in Champagne, France and after his family was driven out by the French revolution, he grew up in Berlin. He became page- in-waiting to the Prussian queen and then entered Prussian army and despite having little education, he studied hard and wrote some poetry. Although he was allowed to return to France, he chose instead to follow Madame de Stael and her group to Switzerland; here he wrote poetry and did botanic research.
Upon his return to Berlin, he continued writing and was appointed botanist to the Russian ship, Rurik which was on a scientific voyage around the world. His diary records his visits to the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea and the San Francisco Bay Area; his ship entered the latter area on October 2, 1816. Throughout the month, von Chamisso compiled an inventory of of many plant and animal species. The National Park Service has included a number of entries from his diary describing the Bay area.
On his return to Berlin in 1818, he was appointed custodian of the botanical gardens in Berlin.
His most notable botanical work was the description of many of the most important trees of Mexico in 1830-1831.
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