Hans Melchior

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Hans Melchior (born August 5, 1894 in Berlin ; † March 12, 1984 ibid) was a German botanist . Its botanical author abbreviation is “ Melch. "

Life

Reinhold Franz Hans Melchior was born as the son of the businessman Hermann Heinrich Franz Melchior and his wife Luise Auguste Emma, ​​née Bachmann, on August 5, 1894 at Greifswalder Strasse 14 in Berlin. Melchior studied natural sciences and botany at the University of Berlin from 1916 to 1920 and was awarded a doctorate in 1920 under Gottlieb Haberlandt and Adolf Engler at the Institute for Plant Physiology. phil. PhD . He then became Engler's assistant at the Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem . In 1927 he became senior assistant at this institute, in 1932 curator, in 1940 professor of botany and in 1955 scientific senior counselor. From 1957 until his retirement in 1959 he was acting head of the institute.

Melchior trained technical assistants in food analysis and horticultural apprentices in botany. In 1948 he received a teaching position for botany and microscopic food analysis at the TH Berlin, where he was appointed honorary professor in 1953.

Act

Among his numerous contributions to taxonomy are his treatments of Medusagynaceae , Theaceae , Violaceae and Canellaceae for the second edition of The Natural Plant Families by Adolf Engler and Carl Prantl , the publication as editor with Erich Werdermann of Engler's Syllabus of Plant Families (1954–1964) and the last big contribution (with Hans Kastner) spices. Botanical and chemical investigation (1974).

His main interests were the Violaceae, Theaceae and Bignoniaceae and, especially in his earlier years, the alpine flora , to which he was introduced on excursions as a student with Engler. Melchior was a founding member of the IAPT (International Association for Plant Taxonomy) and remained in that institution until his death. He was also the editor of specialist journals and compilations.

Honors

The genus Melchiora Kobuski , a synonym for Balthasaria in the Theaceae family, is named after him.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See birth register entry of the StA Berlin 8 No. 1630/1894.
  2. ↑ Lotte Burkhardt: Directory of eponymous plant names - Extended Edition. Part I and II. Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin , Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin 2018, ISBN 978-3-946292-26-5 doi: 10.3372 / epolist2018 .

literature

  • Taxon, Vol. 33, No. 3 (Aug., 1984), p. 560.
  • Brigitte Hoppe:  Melchior, Hans. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 17, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1994, ISBN 3-428-00198-2 , p. 9 f. ( Digitized version ).
  • Eva Potztal: Professor Dr. Hans Melchior (5.8.1894 - 12.3.1984) , in: Willdenowia, Vol. 14, H. 2 (Jan. 25, 1985), pp. 261-268 (obituary to Melchior).

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Melchior, Hans
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Melch. (botanical author abbreviation)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German botanist
DATE OF BIRTH August 5, 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH Berlin
DATE OF DEATH March 12, 1984
Place of death Berlin