Christiaan Hendrik Persoon

Christiaan_Hendrik_Persoon

South African mycologist (1761–1836)

Christiaan Hendrik Persoon

Born	(1761-02-01)1 February 1761
Birth place	Cape Colony, South Africa
Died	16 November 1836(1836-11-16) (aged 75)
Place of death	Paris, France
Nationality	South African

Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (1 February 1761 – 16 November 1836) was a pioneering mycologist and botanist of South African origin. He is considered one of the founding figures in the field of mycology, the study of fungi.

Early Life and Education

Persoon was born in the Cape Colony, which is present-day South Africa. He moved to Europe at a young age to pursue his education. He studied at the University of Leiden and later at the University of Göttingen, where he developed a keen interest in botany and mycology.

Contributions to Mycology

Persoon made significant contributions to the classification and description of fungi. His work laid the foundation for modern mycological taxonomy. He published several important works, including "Synopsis Methodica Fungorum" in 1801, which described numerous species of fungi and introduced a systematic approach to their classification.

Major Works

• Synopsis Methodica Fungorum (1801)
• Icones et Descriptiones Fungorum (1803-1808)
• Mycologia Europaea (1822-1828)

Legacy

Persoon's contributions to mycology have had a lasting impact on the field. Many fungal species have been named in his honor, and his classification systems are still referenced by modern mycologists. He was a member of several scientific societies and corresponded with other prominent scientists of his time.

Related Pages

• Mycology
• Botany
• Fungi
• University of Leiden
• University of Göttingen