Vicente Cervantes
Encyclopedia
Vicente de Cervantes (1755 – 1829) was a notable Spanish
and Mexican
physician and botanist.
and corresponded with Jean-Louis Berlandier
, the French naturalist who botanized in Mexico and Texas
as part of the Mexican Boundary Commission. He was also the first Professor of Botany in New Spain
, at the Royal Botanic Garden in Mexico City.
It is after him that the magnificent Odontoglossum
orchid, the "Cervantes odontoglot" (Odontoglossum cervantesii), is named.
Juan Diego del Castillo
(d. 1793) joined Cervantes in Mexico
. Del Castillo left a large sum of money towards the printing of their projected book Flora Mexicana. Cervantes named the genus
Castilla
after him.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
physician and botanist.
Background
Don Vicente Cervantes was a contemporary of Martín Sessé y LacastaMartín Sessé y Lacasta
Martín Sessé y Lacasta was a Spanish botanist, who relocated to New Spain during the 18th century to study and classify the flora of the territory.-Background:...
and corresponded with Jean-Louis Berlandier
Jean-Louis Berlandier
Jean-Louis Berlandier was a French naturalist, physician, and anthropologist.Berlandier was born in rural Fort de l'Écluse, near France's border with Switzerland, and trained as a botanist in Geneva...
, the French naturalist who botanized in Mexico and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
as part of the Mexican Boundary Commission. He was also the first Professor of Botany in New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
, at the Royal Botanic Garden in Mexico City.
It is after him that the magnificent Odontoglossum
Odontoglossum
Odontoglossum, first named in 1816 by Karl Sigismund Kunth, is a genus of about 100 orchids. The scientific name is derived from the Greek words odon and glossa , referring to the two tooth-like calluses on the base of the lip...
orchid, the "Cervantes odontoglot" (Odontoglossum cervantesii), is named.
Juan Diego del Castillo
Juan Diego del Castillo
Juan Diego del Castillo was a Spanish pharmacist and botanist who joined Vicente Cervantes in Mexico. Castillo wrote Plantas descritas en el viaje de Acapulco. He died in Mexico. Castillo had been a contemporary of Martín Sessé y Lacasta...
(d. 1793) joined Cervantes in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Del Castillo left a large sum of money towards the printing of their projected book Flora Mexicana. Cervantes named 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...
Castilla
Castilla (plant)
Castilla is a tree genus belonging to the family Moraceae found native in Central America. It is named after Juan Diego del Castillo Castilla (sometimes incorrectly spelled Castilloa) is a tree genus belonging to the family Moraceae found native in Central America. It is named after Juan Diego...
after him.
Publications
- Vicente de Cervantes, CastillaCastilla (plant)Castilla is a tree genus belonging to the family Moraceae found native in Central America. It is named after Juan Diego del Castillo Castilla (sometimes incorrectly spelled Castilloa) is a tree genus belonging to the family Moraceae found native in Central America. It is named after Juan Diego...
, in Gazeta de Literatura de México 1794, Suppl.: 7. (2 July 1794)