Hendrik de Wit
Encyclopedia
Hendrik Cornelis Dirk de Wit (24 October 1909 – 16 March 1999) was a Dutch
systematic botanist
who contributed significantly to the knowledge of the Aroid
genera
Cryptocoryne
and Lagenandra
. He grew up in the Waterland
, a marshy area in the Northwest Netherlands, possibly the origin of his lifelong interest in aquatic plant
s.
at the University of Amsterdam from 1931-1937. In 1937 he left for Pretoria
, South Africa
where he worked as an Agricultural Research Officer
with the Department of Agriculture. In 1941 he obtained his Ph.D.
with a thesis on the genus
Setaria
from the grass family (Poaceae
). In the same year, he moved to the Dutch East Indies
(nowadays Indonesia
).
During World War II
de Wit worked in the 's Lands Plantentuin te Buitenzorg
. After his return to The Netherlands in 1946 he worked for the Flora Malesiana Foundation. De Wit was a gifted teacher and on 20 September 1953 he became a lecturer
at Leiden University
where he taught plant taxonomy
and morphology
of flowering plant
s and on 1 November of the same year also at the Wageningen University and Research Centre where he taught taxonomy and tropical and subtropical plant geography
. In 1959 he left Leiden to become full professor
in Wageningen and on 15 September 1969 he became the head of the Laboratory of Plant Taxonomy and Plant Geography there. De Wit retired in 1980, at which occasion a Festschrift
was published in his honour.
, as well as the closely related Lagenandra
on which he published extensively. In all, he described 21 new species of Cryptocoryne and 6 species of the related genus Lagenandra. A lifelong hobby
were freshwater aquaria
and in the late 1950s he edited an encyclopaedia for aquarists in 15 volumes, 2 of which (volumes 5 and 6) dealt with aquarium plants and were written by himself. In 1966 these volumes were revised and published together as the first edition of his book Aquariumplanten was published. It was translated in English
in 1964 and in German
in 1971. After his retirement, he wrote a history of biology
(Ontwikkelingsgeschiedenis van de biologie) in three volumes (1982-1989). A popularized version appeared in 1993 (Wat is leven? Een cultuurgeschiedenis van de biologie).
J.J. de Wilde, Crudia dewitii Kostermans, Cryptocoryne dewitii
Jacobsen, Homalium dewitii Kostermans, and Lagenandra dewitii
Crusio et de Graaf.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
systematic botanist
Plant taxonomy
Plant taxonomy is the science that finds, describes, classifies, identifies, and names plants. It thus is one of the main branches of taxonomy.Plant taxonomy is closely allied to plant systematics, and there is no sharp boundary between the two...
who contributed significantly to the knowledge of the Aroid
Araceae
Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...
genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Cryptocoryne
Cryptocoryne
Cryptocoryne is a genus of about 50-60 species of aquatic monocot plants from the family Araceae . The genus is naturally distributed in tropical regions of Asia and New Guinea....
and Lagenandra
Lagenandra
Lagenandra is a genus of flowering plants in the Araceae family. It consists of 16 species of plants that are endemic to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India. The genus is similar to Cryptocoryne, but can be distinguished from it by its involute vernation...
. He grew up in the Waterland
Waterland
Waterland is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is located north of Amsterdam, on the borders of the IJsselmeer.-Population centres :...
, a marshy area in the Northwest Netherlands, possibly the origin of his lifelong interest in aquatic plant
Aquatic plant
Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or aquatic macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is...
s.
Career
De Wit studied biologyBiology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at the University of Amsterdam from 1931-1937. In 1937 he left for Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he worked as an Agricultural Research Officer
Research assistant
A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research...
with the Department of Agriculture. In 1941 he obtained his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
with a thesis on the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Setaria
Setaria
Setaria is a genus of grasses in the Poaceae family.-Selected species:* Setaria cernua Kunth* Setaria dielsii R.A.W.Herrm.* Setaria faberi R.A.W.Herrm.* Setaria incrassata Hack. – Vlei Bristle Grass...
from the grass family (Poaceae
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
). In the same year, he moved to the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
(nowadays Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
).
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
de Wit worked in the 's Lands Plantentuin te Buitenzorg
Bogor Botanical Gardens
The Bogor Botanical Gardens are located 60 km south of the capital of Jakarta in Bogor, Indonesia. The botanical gardens are situated in the city center of Bogor and adjoin the Istana Bogor...
. After his return to The Netherlands in 1946 he worked for the Flora Malesiana Foundation. De Wit was a gifted teacher and on 20 September 1953 he became a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
where he taught plant taxonomy
Plant taxonomy
Plant taxonomy is the science that finds, describes, classifies, identifies, and names plants. It thus is one of the main branches of taxonomy.Plant taxonomy is closely allied to plant systematics, and there is no sharp boundary between the two...
and morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
of flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s and on 1 November of the same year also at the Wageningen University and Research Centre where he taught taxonomy and tropical and subtropical plant geography
Ecozone
An ecozone is the broadest biogeographic division of the Earth's land surface, based on distributional patterns of terrestrial organisms.Ecozones delineate large areas of the Earth's surface within which organisms have been evolving in relative isolation over long periods of time, separated from...
. In 1959 he left Leiden to become full professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in Wageningen and on 15 September 1969 he became the head of the Laboratory of Plant Taxonomy and Plant Geography there. De Wit retired in 1980, at which occasion a Festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
was published in his honour.
Scientific work
De Wit was especially interested in the Aroid genus CryptocoryneCryptocoryne
Cryptocoryne is a genus of about 50-60 species of aquatic monocot plants from the family Araceae . The genus is naturally distributed in tropical regions of Asia and New Guinea....
, as well as the closely related Lagenandra
Lagenandra
Lagenandra is a genus of flowering plants in the Araceae family. It consists of 16 species of plants that are endemic to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India. The genus is similar to Cryptocoryne, but can be distinguished from it by its involute vernation...
on which he published extensively. In all, he described 21 new species of Cryptocoryne and 6 species of the related genus Lagenandra. A lifelong hobby
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
were freshwater aquaria
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
and in the late 1950s he edited an encyclopaedia for aquarists in 15 volumes, 2 of which (volumes 5 and 6) dealt with aquarium plants and were written by himself. In 1966 these volumes were revised and published together as the first edition of his book Aquariumplanten was published. It was translated in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in 1964 and in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
in 1971. After his retirement, he wrote a history of biology
History of biology
The history of biology traces the study of the living world from ancient to modern times. Although the concept of biology as a single coherent field arose in the 19th century, the biological sciences emerged from traditions of medicine and natural history reaching back to ayurveda, ancient Egyptian...
(Ontwikkelingsgeschiedenis van de biologie) in three volumes (1982-1989). A popularized version appeared in 1993 (Wat is leven? Een cultuurgeschiedenis van de biologie).
Primitiae Africanae
The first results of research workers in African botanical taxonomy, prepared under supervision of de Wit, were published in a series named Primitiae Africanae. Twelve articles were published in total, in different taxonomic journals.Plant species named in de Wit's honour
Several plant species were named in his honour, such as Begonia bonus-henricusBegonia bonus-henricus
Begonia bonus-henricus is a species of plant in the Begoniaceae family. It is endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. It was named after Hendrik de Wit....
J.J. de Wilde, Crudia dewitii Kostermans, Cryptocoryne dewitii
Cryptocoryne dewitii
Cryptocoryne dewitii is a plant species belonging to the Aroid genus Cryptocoryne. It was first described in 1977 from dried herbarium material and named in honor of the Dutch botanist Hendrik de Wit....
Jacobsen, Homalium dewitii Kostermans, and Lagenandra dewitii
Lagenandra dewitii
Lagenandra dewitii is a plant species belonging to the Aroid genus Lagenandra. It was first described in 1986 from living plants and dried herbarium material and named in honour of the Dutch botanist Hendrik de Wit....
Crusio et de Graaf.