Axel Gudbrand Blytt (19 May 1843 – 18 July 1898) was a Norwegian professor,

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

and geologist. He was the author of a number of books regarding the flora of Norway. Today he is most associated with his role in developing the Blytt-Sernander theory of climatic change.

Biography

Blytt was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was the son of Matthias Numsen Blytt (1789–1862) and Ambrosia Henriksen (1822–1900). His father was a noted professor of botany at

The Royal Frederick University The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; la, Universitas Osloensis) is a public university, public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the highest ranked and List of oldest universities in continuous operation#Europe, ...

(now University of Oslo). He graduated Examen artium from Royal Frederick University in 1860. After the death of his father in 1862, he continued his father's work with Norwegian flora. Axel Blytt served with the Christiania Herbarium at the University of Oslo from 1865, first as a conservator, then from 1880 as a professor. In 1869, he was awarded the Crown Prince's gold medal (''Kronprinsens gullmedalje''). Based partly on his father's work, he published ''Norges Flora'' in two volumes during 1874 and 1876. His work
''Essay on the Immigration of Norwegian Flora''
(1876) was read by and influenced Charles Darwin. He died in Oslo during 1898. His wor
''Haandbog i Norges flora''
was completed and published posthumously by botanist Ove Dahl during 1906.

Legacy

Blyttberget, a high

crag Crag may refer to: * Crag (climbing), a cliff or group of cliffs, in any location, which is or may be suitable for climbing * Crag (dice game), a dice game played with three dice * Crag, Arizona, US * Crag, West Virginia, US * Crag and tail, a g ...

southeast of

Nordlaguna Nordlaguna is a lagoon on the island of Jan Mayen. It is the second largest lake of Jan Mayen, after Sørlaguna, and is located in the central part of the island, near the bay of Stasjonsbukta. It was possibly formed by an eruption of Beerenbe ...

on the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen, is named for him. The German botanist Wilhelm Schimper named several mosses after him as well. The remaining existent specimens Blytt collected on his studies are held at the Botanical Museum of the University of Oslo. The

Buffalo Museum of Science The Buffalo Museum of Science is a science museum located at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Buffalo, New York, United States, northeast of the downtown district, near the Kensington Expressway. The historic building was designed by August Es ...

in Buffalo, New York also holds a collection of specimens attributed to a collector identified as "Blytt", who is likely Axel Blytt. This is evidenced by

Charles Peck Charles Peck (1873 - 1941) was a British racehorse trainer A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some of the responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals' physical needs, as well a ...

, the New York State Botanist from 1883 to 1913, in his 1872 ''Report of the Botanist'' to the New York Senate. Peck wrote that he had received 22 specimens of lichens from the University of Norway, Christiana (Oslo), Norway, for the New York State Cabinet. There is also a mention of Blytt in correspondence between the Swiss botanist Leo Lesquereux and

George William Clinton Hon. George William Clinton (April 21, 1807 – September 7, 1885) was a New York lawyer, politician, judge, author, and amateur naturalist. He served as Mayor of Buffalo, New York from 1842 to 1843. Early life and family Clinton was born on Ap ...

, then President of the Buffalo Museum of Natural Sciences, regarding specimens and a visit to the Buffalo Museum by Lesquereux. Though the existing correspondence only provides Lesquereux's letters, he refers to Blytt as "a good Norwegian Botanist I do not know his address in any other way than as you write it. Christiania Norway."Eckel, P.M. (Oct. 2005) Correspondence of Leo Lesquereux and G. W. Clinton. Vol. 3. No. 51 178''Res Botanica.'' Missouri Botanical Garden. Axel_Blytt

Selected works

''Botanisk Reise i Valders og de tilgrændsende Egne''
1864
Om Vegetationsforholdene ved Sognefjorden''
1869
''Vore beste spiselige Soparter''
1869
''Christiania Omegns Phanerogamer og Bregner''
1870
''Spiselige Lavarter''
1870
''Norges Flora. Andel og tredie Del''
2 volumes, 1874–76
''Haandbog i Norges flora''
(completed and published by Ove Dahl), 1906

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blytt, Axel Gudbrand 1843 births 1898 deaths Scientists from Oslo University of Oslo alumni University of Oslo faculty Norwegian educators Norwegian geologists 19th-century Norwegian botanists Botanists with author abbreviations Members of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters

Biography

Legacy

Selected works

Related reading

References