Christian Ernst Stahl
Encyclopedia
Christian Ernst Stahl was a German botanist who was a native of Schiltigheim
, Alsace
. He studied botany at the University of Strasbourg
with Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet
(1838-1902), and at the University of Halle under Anton de Bary
(1831-1888). He earned his doctorate in 1874, and later became an assistant to Julius von Sachs
(1832-1897) at the University of Würzburg
. He was appointed extraordinary professor at the University of Strasbourg
and, after just one year, he attained the chair of botany at the University of Jena in 1881. Here he also was director of the botanical garden
. During the winter of 1889-1890, he took a scientific expedition to Ceylon and Java
, and in 1894 travelled to Mexico
. Two of his better-known students were Hans Adolf Eduard Driesch
(1867-1941) and Hans Kniep
(1881-1930).
Stahl is remembered for his pioneer experiments in ecophysiology
, and his research involving the developmental history of lichen
s. He was able to induce the synthesis of the lichen
Endocarpon pusillum from spores and algal material, including formation of apothecia, and thus he made a strong experimental case for the hypothesis by Simon Schwendener
(1829-1919) that lichen
s are twin fungal
-algal
organisms. He also performed important studies regarding the symbiotic relationship between mycorrhiza
and tree roots.
Other contributions by Stahl included studies concerning the influence of light on plants - he described the anatomy of sun and shade leaves - the effects of moisture and dryness on the formation of leaves, and the role of stomata in xerophytes and mesophyte
s.
He also worked on plant defence against snail
and slug
herbivory and a plethora of other botanical
and ecological
questions.
Schiltigheim
Schiltigheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The inhabitants are called Schilikois in French and Scheligemer in Alsatian....
, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. He studied botany at the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
with Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet
Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet
Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet was a French botanist and mycologist born in Montmirey-la-Ville.He was a student at the Universities of Heidelberg and Freiberg, and later became a professor of botany at the Universities of Strasbourg , Nancy , and Bordeaux .Millardet is chiefly remembered for his...
(1838-1902), and at the University of Halle under Anton de Bary
Anton de Bary
Heinrich Anton de Bary was a German surgeon, botanist, microbiologist, and mycologist ....
(1831-1888). He earned his doctorate in 1874, and later became an assistant to Julius von Sachs
Julius von Sachs
Julius von Sachs was a German botanist from Breslau, Prussian Silesia.At an early age he showed a taste for natural history, becoming acquainted with the Breslau physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkyně. In 1851 he began studying at Charles University in Prague...
(1832-1897) at the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
. He was appointed extraordinary professor at the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
and, after just one year, he attained the chair of botany at the University of Jena in 1881. Here he also was director of the botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
. During the winter of 1889-1890, he took a scientific expedition to Ceylon and Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, and in 1894 travelled to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Two of his better-known students were Hans Adolf Eduard Driesch
Hans Adolf Eduard Driesch
Hans Adolf Eduard Driesch was a German biologist and philosopher from Bad Kreuznach. He is most noted for his early experimental work in embryology and for his neo-vitalist philosophy of entelechy. He is also credited with performing the first cloning of an animal in the 1880s.-Early years:Driesch...
(1867-1941) and Hans Kniep
Hans Kniep
Karl Johannes Kniep was a German botanist who was a native of Jena.He studied medicine at the University of Kiel, and botany in Jena with Christian Ernst Stahl , where he received his doctorate in 1904...
(1881-1930).
Stahl is remembered for his pioneer experiments in ecophysiology
Ecophysiology
Ecophysiology or environmental physiology is a biological discipline which studies the adaptation of organism's physiology to environmental conditions...
, and his research involving the developmental history of lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s. He was able to induce the synthesis of the lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
Endocarpon pusillum from spores and algal material, including formation of apothecia, and thus he made a strong experimental case for the hypothesis by Simon Schwendener
Simon Schwendener
Simon Schwendener was a Swiss botanist who was a native of Buchs in the Canton of St. Gallen.In 1856 he received his doctorate at the University of Zurich, where afterwards he was an assistant to Carl Wilhelm von Nägeli...
(1829-1919) that lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s are twin fungal
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
-algal
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
organisms. He also performed important studies regarding the symbiotic relationship between mycorrhiza
Mycorrhiza
A mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association between a fungus and the roots of a vascular plant....
and tree roots.
Other contributions by Stahl included studies concerning the influence of light on plants - he described the anatomy of sun and shade leaves - the effects of moisture and dryness on the formation of leaves, and the role of stomata in xerophytes and mesophyte
Mesophyte
Mesophytes are terrestrial plants which are adapted to neither a particularly dry nor particularly wet environment. An example of a mesophytic habitat would be a rural temperate meadow, which might contain Goldenrod, Clover, Oxeye Daisy, and Rosa multiflora.Mesophytes make up the largest ecological...
s.
He also worked on plant defence against snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
and slug
Slug
Slug is a common name that is normally applied to any gastropod mollusc that lacks a shell, has a very reduced shell, or has a small internal shell...
herbivory and a plethora of other botanical
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 ecological
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...
questions.
Selected scientific works
- Entwickelung und Anatomie der Lenticellen. (Evolution and Anatomy of LenticelLenticelA lenticel is an airy aggregation of cells within the structural surfaces of the stems, roots, and other parts of vascular plants. It functions as a pore, providing a medium for the direct exchange of gasses between the internal tissues and atmosphere, thereby bypassing the periderm, which would...
); Leipzig 1873. - Beiträge zur Entwickelungsgeschichte der Flechten. Leipzig 1877.
- Über den Einfluß von Richtung und Stärke der Beleuchtung auf einige Bewegungserscheinungen im Pflanzenreich. Leipzig 1880.
- Über sogenannte Kompaßpflanzen. (treatise about Compass Plants); Jena 1883.
- Über den Einfluß des sonnigen oder schattigen Standortes auf die Ausbildung der Laubblätter. (Concerning Sun and Shade on the Formation of Leaves on Deciduous Trees); Jena 1883.
- Einfluß des Lichtes auf den Geotropismus einiger Pflanzenorgane. (Influence of Light concerning GeotropismTropismA tropism is a biological phenomenon, indicating growth or turning movement of a biological organism, usually a plant, in response to an environmental stimulus. In tropisms, this response is dependent on the direction of the stimulus...
of Plants); Berlin 1884. - Zur Biologie der Myxomyceten (the Biology of Slime Mold). Leipzig 1884.
- Pflanzen und Schnecken. Eine biologische Studie über die Schutzmittel der Pflanzen gegen Schneckenfraß. (Plants and SnailSnailSnail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s, A Biological Study regarding Protection of Plants against Slugs); Jena 1888.