Otto Degener

Otto Degener

American botanist and collector
Date of Birth: 13.05.1899
Country: USA

Content:
  1. Otto Degener: A Pioneering Botanist and Plant Collector
  2. Academic Career
  3. Exploration and Discoveries
  4. Collaboration with Isa Degener
  5. Legacy

Otto Degener: A Pioneering Botanist and Plant Collector

Early Life and Education

Otto Degener, an American botanist and plant collector, was born in Germany but spent much of his life in the United States. He earned his Master's degree from the University of Hawaii in 1922 and his doctorate from Columbia University.

Academic Career

Degener taught at the University of Hawaii and worked at the Hawaiian Botanical Garden. His most significant work, "Flora Hawaiiensis," published in 1932, was the first publication on Hawaiian flora since 1888.

Exploration and Discoveries

Degener collected over 36,000 different plant species and preserved around 900 endangered and threatened plants. In 1941, he collected materials on the islands of Fiji that led to the discovery of Degeneria vitiensis in 1942. This plant was recognized as a botanical sensation for its extreme archaism and primitive structure. It was assigned to its own genus, Degeneria, and family, Degeneriaceae, both named in honor of Otto Degener.

Collaboration with Isa Degener

Otto Degener married Isa (Irmgard) Hansen in 1953. Isa was a botanist and taxonomist who had previously worked at the Berlin-Dahlem Botanic Garden in Germany. Together, Otto and Isa Degener co-authored ten monographs and over four hundred journal articles.

Legacy

Otto Degener's contributions to botany were significant. He made important discoveries, contributed to the preservation of endangered plants, and left a lasting legacy through his writings and collaborations. His work continues to inspire and inform botanists around the world.

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