Georg Heinrich Mettenius
Encyclopedia
Georg Heinrich Mettenius (November 24, 1823 – August 18, 1866) was a German botanist who was a native of Frankfurt am Main. He was son-in-law to botanist Alexander Braun
(1805–1877).
In 1845 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Heidelberg. Following graduation, he studied botany and performed field investigations of marine algae at Helgoland and Fiume. In 1848 he returned to Heidelberg
as a privat-docent, and was later appointed an associate professor of botany at Freiburg
. In 1852 he became a full professor at the University of Leipzig
and director of its botanical garden
. He died of cholera
at the age of 42 on August 18, 1866.
Mettenius was a leading authority in the field of pteridology. The plant genus Metteniusa
from the family Icacinaceae
is named after him.
Alexander Braun
Alexander Carl Heinrich Braun was a German botanist from Regensburg, Bavaria.He studied botany in Heidelberg, Paris and Munich. In 1833 he began teaching botany at the Polytechnic School of Karlsruhe, staying there until 1846...
(1805–1877).
In 1845 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Heidelberg. Following graduation, he studied botany and performed field investigations of marine algae at Helgoland and Fiume. In 1848 he returned to Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
as a privat-docent, and was later appointed an associate professor of botany at Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
. In 1852 he became a full professor at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
and director of its 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...
. He died of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
at the age of 42 on August 18, 1866.
Mettenius was a leading authority in the field of pteridology. The plant genus Metteniusa
Metteniusa
Metteniusa is a genus of flowering plants in the monogeneric family Metteniusaceae. It was named by Hermann Karsten in 1860 for the German botanist Georg Heinrich Mettenius. It has seven species. The type species is Metteniusa edulis...
from the family Icacinaceae
Icacinaceae
Icacinaceae is a family of flowering plants.It consists of trees, shrubs, and lianas, primarily of the tropics.The family was traditionally circumscribed quite broadly, with around 55 genera totalling over 400 species...
is named after him.
Selected publications
- Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Rhizocarpeen (1846)
- Filices horti botanici Lipsiensis (1856)
- Filices Lechlerianae Chilenses ac Peruanae cura (1856–59)
- Über einige Farngattungen (1856–59)