Mutius von Tommasini
Encyclopedia
Muzio Giuseppe Spirito de' Tommasini, sometimes referred to as Muzio Tommasini or as Mutius von Tommasini; (June 4, 1794 – December 31 1879) was a botanist and politician born in Trieste
under Austria-Hungary.
He first became interested in botany as a grammar school student in Ljubljana
, now part of Slovenia. While studying medicine at the University of Vienna
, he was inspired by the work of professor Joseph Franz von Jacquin
(1766-1839), and conducted investigations of flora in the vicinity of Vienna
. Afterwards, Tommasini studied law at the University of Graz
.
A career politician, he received his first appointment in 1817 as an official in the district of Istria
. During the following year he was elected district secretary of the city of Split
. From 1839 to 1860 he was mayor of Trieste
.
As a botanist he participated in several noteworthy expeditions. Early in his career he took exploratory trips to the Biokovo Mountains
(1823) and Dalmatia
(1827). In 1832 he accompanied Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure
(1767-1845) on a botanical excursion through the Austrian Littoral
region, and in 1837 with British botanist George Bentham
(1800-1884) he performed studies in the regions of Carniola
, Carinthia
and Friuli
.
After his election as mayor in 1839, his botanical trips became less frequent. However in 1840 he journeyed to the Julian Alps
, where he scaled Monte Matajur, and soon afterwards collaborated with Otto Sendtner
(1813-1859) on an exploratory trip to the coastal areas of Austria, where plants for an herbarium
were collected.
Tommasini played an important part in the creation of the Civico Museo di Storia Naturale di Trieste
. Also the botanical species Crocus tommasinianus
is named in his honor. This plant is commonly referred to as Elfenkrokus (elf crocus
) in Germany, and sometimes as "Tommy crocus" in English speaking countries.
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
under Austria-Hungary.
He first became interested in botany as a grammar school student in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
, now part of Slovenia. While studying medicine at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, he was inspired by the work of professor Joseph Franz von Jacquin
Joseph Franz von Jacquin
Joseph Franz Freiherr von Jacquin or Baron Joseph von Jacquin. was an Austrian scientist who studied medicine, chemistry zoology and botany....
(1766-1839), and conducted investigations of flora in the vicinity of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Afterwards, Tommasini studied law at the University of Graz
University of Graz
The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....
.
A career politician, he received his first appointment in 1817 as an official in the district of Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
. During the following year he was elected district secretary of the city of Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
. From 1839 to 1860 he was mayor of Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
.
As a botanist he participated in several noteworthy expeditions. Early in his career he took exploratory trips to the Biokovo Mountains
Biokovo
Biokovo is the second-highest mountain range in Croatia, located along the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, between the rivers of Cetina and Neretva...
(1823) and Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
(1827). In 1832 he accompanied Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure
Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure
Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure was a Swiss chemist and student of plant physiology who made seminal advances in phytochemistry....
(1767-1845) on a botanical excursion through the Austrian Littoral
Austrian Littoral
The Austrian Littoral was established as a crown land of the Austrian Empire in 1849. In 1861 it was divided into the three crown lands of the Imperial Free City of Trieste and its suburbs, the Margraviate of Istria, and the Princely County of Gorizia and Gradisca, which each had separate...
region, and in 1837 with British botanist George Bentham
George Bentham
George Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :...
(1800-1884) he performed studies in the regions of Carniola
Carniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
, Carinthia
Duchy of Carinthia
The Duchy of Carinthia was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, then the first newly created Imperial State beside the original German stem duchies....
and Friuli
Friuli
Friuli is an area of northeastern Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, i.e. the province of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, excluding Trieste...
.
After his election as mayor in 1839, his botanical trips became less frequent. However in 1840 he journeyed to the Julian Alps
Julian Alps
The Julian Alps are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretches from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount Triglav. They are named after Julius Caesar, who founded the municipium of Cividale del Friuli at the foot of the mountains...
, where he scaled Monte Matajur, and soon afterwards collaborated with Otto Sendtner
Otto Sendtner
Otto Sendtner was a German botanist and phytogeographer born in Munich.He received his education at the University of Munich, where he was a student of Karl Friedrich Schimper...
(1813-1859) on an exploratory trip to the coastal areas of Austria, where plants for an herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
were collected.
Tommasini played an important part in the creation of the Civico Museo di Storia Naturale di Trieste
Civico Museo di Storia Naturale di Trieste
Civico Museo di Storia Naturale di Trieste is a natural history museum in Trieste, northern Italy.-External links:**...
. Also the botanical species Crocus tommasinianus
Crocus tommasinianus
Crocus tommasinianus , often referred to as 'Tommies' were named after the botanist Muzio G. Spirito de Tommasini , who was mayor of the city of Triest. They are often referred to as early or snow crocuses, but these terms are shared with several other species, although C. tommasinianus is amongst...
is named in his honor. This plant is commonly referred to as Elfenkrokus (elf crocus
Crocus
Crocus is a genus in the iris family comprising about 80 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring...
) in Germany, and sometimes as "Tommy crocus" in English speaking countries.