Charles Flahault
Encyclopedia
Charles Henri Marie Flahault (October 3, 1852 – February 3, 1935) was a French
botanist, among the early pioneers of phytogeography
, phytosociology
and forest ecology
. The word relevé
for a plant community sample is his invention.
Flahault was born in Bailleul, Nord
, and received his Baccalauréat de Lettres at Douai
in 1872, after which he became a gardener at the Jardin des Plantes de Paris. There he came to the notice of Joseph Decaisne
(1807–1882), who gave him private lessons, after which he entered the Sorbonne
in 1874 to study in the laboratory of Philippe Van Tieghem (1839–1914),
obtaining his doctoral degree in 1878. He continued his studies at Uppsala University
in 1879 together with Gaston Bonnier
, then in 1881 joined the University of Montpellier
where in 1883 he became professor of botany
, and in 1890 he founded the Institut de Botanique. He resided in Montpellier
until his death, and is buried in that city's Cimetière Saint Lazare.
Flahault was elected member of the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
(1888) and the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
(1905), and an honorary doctor at Uppsala University (1907).
Notable students:
Several plant species have been named to his honour.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
botanist, among the early pioneers of phytogeography
Phytogeography
Phytogeography , also called geobotany, is the branch of biogeography that is concerned with the geographic distribution of plant species...
, phytosociology
Phytosociology
Phytosociology is the branch of science which deals with plant communities, their composition and development, and the relationships between the species within them. A phytosociological system is a system for classifying these communities...
and forest ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
. The word relevé
Relevé
Relevé can refer to* Population ecology, a quadrat that encloses the minimal area under the Species-area curve* In ballet, the act of rising from any position to balance on one or both feet...
for a plant community sample is his invention.
Flahault was born in Bailleul, Nord
Bailleul, Nord
Bailleul is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It is located in French Flanders near Lille.-Heraldry:-Media:...
, and received his Baccalauréat de Lettres at Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
in 1872, after which he became a gardener at the Jardin des Plantes de Paris. There he came to the notice of Joseph Decaisne
Joseph Decaisne
Joseph Decaisne was a French botanist and agronomist.Although he was born in Brussels, Belgium, he exercised his activity exclusively in Paris...
(1807–1882), who gave him private lessons, after which he entered the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in 1874 to study in the laboratory of Philippe Van Tieghem (1839–1914),
obtaining his doctoral degree in 1878. He continued his studies at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in 1879 together with Gaston Bonnier
Gaston Bonnier
Gaston Eugène Marie Bonnier was a French botanist and plant ecologist. Bonnier first studied at École Normale Supérieure in Paris from 1873 to 1876. Together with Charles Flahault, he studied at Uppsala University in 1878...
, then in 1881 joined the University of Montpellier
University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier was a French university in Montpellier in the Languedoc-Roussillon région of the south of France. Its present-day successor universities are the University of Montpellier 1, Montpellier 2 University and Paul Valéry University, Montpellier III.-History:The university...
where in 1883 he became professor of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, and in 1890 he founded the Institut de Botanique. He resided in Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
until his death, and is buried in that city's Cimetière Saint Lazare.
Flahault was elected member of the Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
The Royal Physiographic Society in Lund or Kungl. Fysiografiska Sällskapet i Lund, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden. It was founded in Lund, on December 2, 1772, and received a Royal Charter by Gustav III, on March 6, 1778.- External links :*...
(1888) and the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala
The Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala , is the oldest of the royal academies in Sweden. The society has, by royal decree of 1906, 50 Swedish fellows and 100 foreign....
(1905), and an honorary doctor at Uppsala University (1907).
Notable students:
- Josias Braun-BlanquetJosias Braun-BlanquetJosias Braun-Blanquet was an influential phytosociologist and botanist. Braun-Blanquet was born in Chur, Switzerland and died in Montpellier, France.-Phytosociology:...
Several plant species have been named to his honour.
Works
- Recherches sur l’accroissement terminal de la racine chez les phanérogames (thèse de doctorat), G. Masson, Paris, 1878 (198 pp., 8 pl.)
- Observations sur les modifications des végétaux suivant les conditions physiques du milieu, An. Sc. Nat. Bot. 6, VII, p. 93-125, 1878 (avec Gaston BonnierGaston BonnierGaston Eugène Marie Bonnier was a French botanist and plant ecologist. Bonnier first studied at École Normale Supérieure in Paris from 1873 to 1876. Together with Charles Flahault, he studied at Uppsala University in 1878...
). - Nouvelles observations sur les modifications des végétaux suivant les conditions physiques du milieu, An. Sc. Nat. Bot. 6, IX, p. 159-207, (1878).
- Phénomènes périodiques de la végétation d’après les travaux météorologiques scandinaves, 1878
- Nouvelles observations sur les modifications des végétaux suivant les conditions physiques du milieu, B.S.B.F., XXXVI, p. 346-350, (1879).
- Distribution des végétaux dans les régions moyennesde la presqu’île scandinave, 1879 (avec Gaston Bonnier)
- Révision des Nostocacées Hétérocystées contenues dans les principaux herbiers de France, 1886-1888 (avec Bornet) (réimprimé en 1959)
- Sur quelques plantes vivant dans le test calcaire des Mollusques, B.S.B.F., 36, 1889.
- La répartition géographique des végétaux dans un coin du Languedoc (département de l’Hérault), Montpellier, 1893
- Projet de carte botanique, forestière et agricole de la France, 1894
- Sur la flore de la Camargue et des alluvions du Rhône, B.S.B.F., 41, 1894 (avec P. Combres).
- Au sujet de la carte botanique, forestière et agricole de la France, et des moyens de l’exécuter, 1896
- La flore de la vallée de Barcelonnette, 1897
- La distribution géographique des végétaux dans la région méditerranéenne française, Paris, 1897 (publié par Gaussen en 1937)
- Essai d’une carte botanique et forestière de la France, 1897
- La flore et la végétation de la France, Klincksieck, 1901
- La flore et la végétation de la France, introduction à la Flore de France de H. Coste, Paris, 1901
- Les limites supérieures de la végétation forestière et les prairies pseudo-alpines en France, R.E.F., 1901
- Premier essai de nomenclature phytogéographique, Bulletin de la Société languedocienne de géographie, Montpellier, 1901
- La nomenclature en géographie botanique, Annales de Géographie, X, 1901
- La paléobotanique dans ses rapports avecla végétation actuelle, Klincksieck, Paris, 1903
- Les hauts sommets et la vie végétale, La Montagne, Club alpin français, 1904
- Rapport au sujet des jardins botaniques de l’Aigoual, Montpellier, 1904
- Nouvelle flore coloriée de poche des Alpes et des Pyrénées, Série 1, Librairie des Sciences naturelles Paul Klincksieck, 1906 (volume II de la collection)
- Les jardins alpins, A.G., 1906
- Préface de lHortus Vilmorianus, 1906
- Introduction au Catalogue des plantes vasculaires dans le département du Var par Albert et Jahandiez, 1908.
- Nouvelle flore coloriée de poche des Alpes et des Pyrénées, Série 2, Librairie des Sciences naturelles Paul Klincksieck, 1908.
- Rapport sur la nomenclature phytogéographique (avec Carl Joseph Schröter (1855–1939)), Actes du IIe Congrès international de botanique, Wildemann, Bruxelles, 1910
- Nouvelle flore coloriée de poche des Alpes et des Pyrénées, Série 3, Librairie des Sciences naturelles Paul Klincksieck, 1912.
- Notice sur les travaux scientifiques, Firmin et Montane, Montpellier, 1917
- Les Causses du Midi de la France, Bulletin de la Société languedocienne de Géographie, III-3, IV, V-1, 1932-1934.
- La distribution géographique des végétaux dans la région méditerranéenne française, Encyclopédie biologique Lechevalier, 1937.