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Karl-Heinrich Emil KochA famous German botanist and dendrologist.
Date of Birth: 06.06.1809
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Karl Koch: A Renowned German Botanist and Dendrologist
- Expeditions to the East
- Second Eastern Expedition and Academic Career
- Major Botanical Contributions
- - "Beitr?ge zu einer Flora des Orientes" (1848-1851)
Karl Koch: A Renowned German Botanist and Dendrologist
Early Life and EducationKarl Koch was born in Weimar, Germany, on June 6, 1809. Initially pursuing medicine at the University of Jena, Koch's true passion lay in botany. In 1834, he became a private lecturer in botany at Jena.
Expeditions to the East
In 1836, Koch embarked on his first expedition to the East, seeking to identify the origins of fruit trees. He traveled extensively through the Caucasus, Armenia, and the Persian Plateau, returning in 1838 with a vast collection of specimens. His observations from this journey were published in "Reise durch Russland nach dem Kaukas. Isthmus" (1842-43).
Second Eastern Expedition and Academic Career
In 1843, Koch undertook a second expedition to the East, exploring the Pontic Plateau and the regions surrounding Ardahan, Erzurum, and the Euphrates. His experiences were chronicled in "Wanderungen durch dem Orient" (1846-47). Upon his return, he settled in Berlin, where he was appointed Extraordinary Professor of Dendrology at the University of Berlin in 1847. In 1878, he became Director of the Berlin Botanical Garden.
Major Botanical Contributions
Koch's seminal work was his three-volume "Dendrologie" (1869-1872), a comprehensive treatise on trees. He also authored numerous other influential publications, including:
- "Das nat?rliche System des Pflanzenreichs nachgewiesen in der Flora von Jena" (1839)
- "Beitr?ge zu einer Flora des Orientes" (1848-1851)
- "Hortus dendrologicus" (1853)- "Die botanischen G?rten" (1860)
- "Die deutschen Obstgeh?lze" (1876)
Legacy and Influence
From 1857 to 1872, Koch edited the journal "Wochenschrift f?r G?rtnerei und Pflanzenkunde." His meticulous research and extensive expeditions greatly contributed to the advancement of botanical knowledge, particularly in the field of dendrology. Karl Koch passed away in Berlin on May 25, 1879, leaving behind a remarkable legacy as one of the foremost botanists of his era.
