Karl von Zois

Karl von Zois zu Laibach (1756–1800) was an Austrian amateur botanist and plant collector. Von Zois, described as a "country gentleman",[1] lived in the Carniola region of Austria.[1] He is best known today as the namesake of zoysiagrass,[2] which was named by Carl Ludwig Willdenow in 1801.[1]

The Zois family was of Lombard origin; Karl's father was Michelangelo Zois (1694–1777), a merchant who married a Carniolan noblewoman, and was nobilitated in 1739. The family was based in Ljubljana (German: Laibach). His brother was natural scientist and patron of the arts Sigmund Zois.

References

  1. ^ a b c Australian Biological Resources Study (2005). Flora of Australia: Poaceae: Centothecoideae Chloridoideae. 44. Csiro Publishing. p. 263. ISBN 0-643-05702-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=NqRsKh3zy9oC&pg=PA263. 
  2. ^ Duble, Richard L. "Zoysiagrass". Texas Cooperative Extension. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/turf/publications/zoysia.html. Retrieved 5 August 2010.