Carl Adolph Agardh (23 January 1785 in Båstad, Sweden – 28 January 1859 in Karlstad) was a Swedish botanist specializing in algae, who was eventually appointed bishop of Karlstad.

Carl Adolph Agardh
Born(1785-01-23)23 January 1785
Died12 January 1859(1859-01-12) (aged 73)
Karlstad, Sweden
Known forBiological Classification, Systema algarum
AwardsRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Scientific career
FieldsBotany, Church (bishop)
InstitutionsLund University, Karlstad
Author abbrev. (botany)C. Agardh

Biography

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In 1807 he was appointed teacher of mathematics at Lund University, in 1812 appointed professor of botany and natural sciences,[1] and was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in 1817, and of the Swedish Academy in 1831.

He was ordained a clergyman in 1816, received two parishes as prebend, and was a representative in the clerical chamber of the Swedish Parliament on several occasions from 1817. He was rector magnificus of Lund University 1819-1820 and was appointed bishop of Karlstad in 1835, where he remained until his death.[2] He was the father of Jacob Georg Agardh, also a botanist.[1]

System of plant classification

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The Classes Plantarum[3] has nine primary divisions into which his classes and natural orders are grouped. These are, with class numbers;

  1. Acotyledonae 1–3 (Algae, Lichenes, Fungi)
  2. Pseudocotyledonae 4–7 (Muscoideae, Tetradidymae, Filices, Equisetaceae)
  3. Cryptocotyledonae 8–12 (Macropodae, Spadicinae, Glumiflorae, Liliiflorae, Gynandrae)
  4. Phanerocotyledonae incompletae 13–16 (Micranthae, Oleraceae, Epichlamydeae, Columnantherae)
  5. Phanerocotyledonae completae, hypogynae, monopetalae 17 (Tubiflorae)
  6. Phanerocotyledonae completae, hypogynae, polypetalae 18–22 (Centrisporae, Brevistylae, Polycarpellae, Valvisporae, Columniferae)
  7. Phanerocotyledonae completae, discigynae, monopetalae 23 (Tetraspermae)
  8. Phanerocotyledonae completae, discigynae, polypetalae 24–26 (Gynobaseae, Trihilitae, Hypodicarpae)
  9. Phanerocotyledonae completae, porigynae 27–33 (Subaggregatae, Aridifoliae, Succulentae, Calycanthemae, Peponiferae, Icosandrae, Leguminosae)

Each class then contains a number of orders (families). For instance, Liliiflorae contains 11 orders;

Publications

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He devoted considerable attention to political economy and as "a leading liberal", he "succeeded in improving and raising the standards of education in Sweden".[4] He also wrote on theological and other subjects, but his reputation chiefly rests on his botanical works, especially Systema algarum, Species algarum rite cognitae and Classes plantarum[3] on biological classification, and Icones Algarum (1824, 1820–28, and 1828–35). The greatest part of his Manual of Botany (2 vols., Malmoe, 1829–32) has been translated into German.[1]

List of selected publications

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  • Agardh, Carl Adolph (1825). Classes Plantarum. Lund: Literis Berlingianis.
  • — (1817–1826). Aphorismi botanici. Lund: Literis Berlingianis.
  • Algarum decas prima [-quarta] /auctore Carolo Ad. Agardh
  • Dispositio algarum Sueciae /cuctore Carolo Adolfo Agardh
  • Caroli A. Agardh Synopsis algarum Scandinaviae : adjecta dispositione universali algarum
  • Adnotationes botanicae (with Swartz, Olof, Sprengel, Kurt Polycarp Joachim, and Wikström, Joh. Em)

Notes

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  1. ^ Agardh notes that his Coronariae includes Linnaeus's Coronariae and Liliaceae, orders 9 and 10 of the latter

References

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  1. ^ a b c Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Agardh, Karl Adolf" . The American Cyclopædia.
  2. ^ Eriksson 1970.
  3. ^ a b Agardh 1825.
  4. ^   Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Karl Adolph Agardh". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  5. ^ International Plant Names Index.  C. Agardh.

Bibliography

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Cultural offices
Preceded by Swedish Academy,
Seat No 4

1831-1859
Succeeded by
Religious titles
Preceded by
Johan Jacob Hedrén
Bishop of Karlstad
1835–1859
Succeeded by
Johan Anton Millén