Charles François Antoine Morren

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Thladiantha dubiafrom La Belgique horticole
Thladiantha dubia
from La Belgique horticole

Charles François Antoine Morren (3 March 1807 Ghent - 17 December 1858 Liège), was a Belgian botanist and horticulturist, and Director of the Jardin botanique de l’Université de Liège.[1]

Morren taught physics at Ghent University between 1831 and 1835. At the same time he studied medicine and graduated in 1835. He became Professor extraordinarius of botany at the University of Liège from 1835 to 1837, and full professor from 1837 to 1854.

Morren discovered that the vanilla flower is pollinated by the sociable and stingless Melipone bee, which occurs only in Mexico, obviating natural pollination in other countries. Hernán Cortés brought vanilla to Europe, but for more than 300 years the pollination mechanism remained a mystery. Morren discovered a way of artificial pollination, ensuring a thriving vanilla industry in the French colonies.

He was the father of Charles Jacques Édouard Morren. Morren and his son produced the journal La Belgique horticole, journal des jardins et des vergers. A total of 35 volumes were published between 1851 and 1885.

The standard author abbreviation C.Morren is used to indicate this individual as the author when citing a botanical name.[2]

[edit] Publications

  • Morren, C. (1838). Recherches sur le mouvement et l'anatomie du Stylidium graminifolium. Mem. Acad. Roy. Scien. et belles lett., Brux.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Complete Work of Charles Darwin
  2. ^ Brummitt, R. K.; C. E. Powell (1992). Authors of Plant Names. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-085-4. 
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