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Karl Koch (botanist)
Encyclopedia
Karl Heinrich Emil Koch (6 June 1809 - 25 May 1879) was a German
botanist. He is best known for his botanical explorations in the Caucasus
region, including northeast Turkey
. Unfortunately, most of his collections have today been lost. He is also known as the first professional horticultural officer in Germany.
, Germany. He studied at the universities of Jena and Würzburg
and taught, as privatdocent, at the University of Jena beginning 1834. He became an extraordinary professor in 1836. He undertook a journey of research into southern Russia
in 1836-38, and a second in 1843-44. The fruit of this second trip, in which he also visited Asia Minor
, Armenia
, the Caspian Sea
, and the Caucasus Mountains
, was his Wanderungen im Orient (Weimar, 1846-47).
After his second journey, he settled at the University of Berlin in 1847, where he was later appointed assistant professor. He was at the Berlin botanical gardens
beginning in 1849. He became general secretary of the Berlin Horticultural Society (Verein zur Beförderung des Gartenbau, a Prussia
n state institution) in 1852, in which capacity he published Wochenschrift für Gartnerei und Pflanzenkunde (1858-72). In 1859, he was appointed professor of the Agricultural High School in Berlin.
He died in Berlin
. He is denoted by the author abbreviation K.Koch when citing
a botanical name
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
botanist. He is best known for his botanical explorations in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
region, including northeast Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Unfortunately, most of his collections have today been lost. He is also known as the first professional horticultural officer in Germany.
Biography
He was born in Ettersberg near WeimarWeimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
, Germany. He studied at the universities of Jena and 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:...
and taught, as privatdocent, at the University of Jena beginning 1834. He became an extraordinary professor in 1836. He undertook a journey of research into southern Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 1836-38, and a second in 1843-44. The fruit of this second trip, in which he also visited Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
, and the Caucasus Mountains
Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region .The Caucasus Mountains includes:* the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and* the Lesser Caucasus Mountains....
, was his Wanderungen im Orient (Weimar, 1846-47).
After his second journey, he settled at the University of Berlin in 1847, where he was later appointed assistant professor. He was at the Berlin botanical gardens
Botanical Garden in Berlin
Botanical Garden in Berlin is considered one of the most important gardens in the world, with area of 43 hectares and around 22,000 different plant species.The garden is located in the Dahlem neighborhood of the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf...
beginning in 1849. He became general secretary of the Berlin Horticultural Society (Verein zur Beförderung des Gartenbau, a Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n state institution) in 1852, in which capacity he published Wochenschrift für Gartnerei und Pflanzenkunde (1858-72). In 1859, he was appointed professor of the Agricultural High School in Berlin.
He died in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. He is denoted by the author abbreviation K.Koch when citing
Author citation (botany)
In botanical nomenclature, author citation refers to citing the person who validly published a botanical name, i.e. who first published the name while fulfilling the formal requirements as specified by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature...
a botanical name
Botanical name
A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants...
.