Josias Braun-Blanquet
Encyclopedia
Josias Braun-Blanquet was an influential phytosociologist
and botanist. Braun-Blanquet was born in Chur
, Switzerland
and died in Montpellier
, France.
, he worked on the phytosociology
of the southern Cévennes
. Subsequently he established the modern way of classifying vegetation according to floristic composition. This is what makes him one of the most influential botanists until today.
as namesake, changing the ending of the generic name to "-etum" and treating the specific epithet as adjective
. Thus, a particular type of mesotrophic grassland widespread in western Europe
and dominated only by False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) becomes Arrhenatheretum elatioris Br.-Bl..
To distinguish between similar plant communities dominated by the same species, other important species are included in the name which otherwise is formed according to the same rules. Another type of mesotrophic pasture
land – also widespread in western Europe but dominated by Black Knapweed (Centaurea nigra
) and Crested Dog's-tail (Cynosurus cristatus) – is consequently named Centaureo-Cynosuretum cristati Br.-Bl. & Tx..
If the second species is characteristic but notably less dominant than the first one, its genus name may be used as the adjective, for example in Pterocarpetum rhizophorosus, a type of tropical scrubland near water which has abundant Pterocarpus officinalis and significant (though not overwhelmingly prominent) Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle).
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 botanist. Braun-Blanquet was born in Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and died 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....
, France.
Phytosociology
In Josias Braun-Blanquet's dissertation, supervised by Charles FlahaultCharles Flahault
Charles Henri Marie Flahault was a French botanist, among the early pioneers of phytogeography, phytosociology and forest ecology...
, he worked on the 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...
of the southern Cévennes
Cévennes
The Cévennes are a range of mountains in south-central France, covering parts of the départements of Gard, Lozère, Ardèche, and Haute-Loire.The word Cévennes comes from the Gaulish Cebenna, which was Latinized by Julius Caesar to Cevenna...
. Subsequently he established the modern way of classifying vegetation according to floristic composition. This is what makes him one of the most influential botanists until today.
Plant community classifying
Braun-Blanquet's way of classifying a plant community uses the scientific name of its most characteristic speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
as namesake, changing the ending of the generic name to "-etum" and treating the specific epithet as adjective
Adjective
In grammar, an adjective is a 'describing' word; the main syntactic role of which is to qualify a noun or noun phrase, giving more information about the object signified....
. Thus, a particular type of mesotrophic grassland widespread in western Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and dominated only by False Oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) becomes Arrhenatheretum elatioris Br.-Bl..
To distinguish between similar plant communities dominated by the same species, other important species are included in the name which otherwise is formed according to the same rules. Another type of mesotrophic pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
land – also widespread in western Europe but dominated by Black Knapweed (Centaurea nigra
Centaurea nigra
Centaurea nigra is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names Lesser Knapweed, Common Knapweed and Black Knapweed...
) and Crested Dog's-tail (Cynosurus cristatus) – is consequently named Centaureo-Cynosuretum cristati Br.-Bl. & Tx..
If the second species is characteristic but notably less dominant than the first one, its genus name may be used as the adjective, for example in Pterocarpetum rhizophorosus, a type of tropical scrubland near water which has abundant Pterocarpus officinalis and significant (though not overwhelmingly prominent) Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle).
Publications
- Braun-Blanquet, Josias (1964): Pflanzensoziologie, Grundzüge der Vegetationskunde. (3. Auflage). Springer Verlag, Wien, 865 pages