Carlo Allioni

Ritratto di Carlo Allioni, ante 1902 - Accademia delle Scienze di Torino - Ritratti 0101 B

Carlo Allioni (23 September 1728 – 30 July 1804) was an Italian physician and botanist. He is best known for his work in the field of botany, particularly for his contributions to the classification and description of plants.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Carlo Allioni was born in Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia. He studied medicine at the University of Turin, where he developed a keen interest in botany. After completing his studies, he began practicing as a physician while continuing his botanical research.

Career[edit | edit source]

In 1758, Allioni was appointed professor of botany at the University of Turin. He also served as the director of the university's botanical garden. His work primarily focused on the flora of the Piedmont region.

Major Works[edit | edit source]

Allioni's most significant contribution to botany is his publication Flora Pedemontana (1785), a comprehensive catalog of the plants found in the Piedmont region. This work included detailed descriptions and illustrations of numerous plant species, many of which were new to science at the time.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Carlo Allioni's contributions to botany have been recognized by the scientific community. The plant genus Allionia was named in his honor. His work continues to be a valuable resource for botanists and researchers studying the flora of the Piedmont region.