Joseph Mathen Pallithanam (1915–1984) was an Indian botanist. He was born to Mathachan (Vachaparampil) and Mariamma (Pallithanam) in Kainadyvillage of

Kuttanadu Kuttanad is a river delta landscape region in the state of Kerala, India, known for its vast paddy fields and geographical peculiarities. It is in the Districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. The region has the lowest altitude in ...

. He belongs to a traditional agricultural family. His maternal uncle Pallithanthu Mathai Luka (Pallithanathu Kochu Mathan) pioneered the backwater kayal cultivation in Kuttanadu. After his education, he became a priest in the

Society of Jesus The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded in 1540 ...

. He then completed a doctorate in botany, and became an instructor at St. Xaviers College, Tirunelveli Tamil Nadu, and then at

St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli (SJC) is a Catholic college in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. It was established in 1844 by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and is regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions in India. It is ...

. He dedicated his time to taxonomic studies and the compilation of

florae Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous) native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for fungi, it is ''funga''. Sometimes ba ...

. Pallithanam was one of the first Indian Jesuit botanists. Though he had done considerable work in field of taxonomy, very little has been published; however, along with Father Balam of St. Joseph's College, he inspired scores of students to study the botany of India. His book ''A Pocket Flora of the Sirumalai Hills South India'' is still considered as a notable work on South Indian flora; it is still cited in the scientific literature.''Tropical Conservation Science'' Vol.1(2):89-110, 2008
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References

20th-century Indian Jesuits 1915 births 1984 deaths 20th-century Indian botanists People from Alappuzha district Scientists from Kerala Jesuit scientists {{India-reli-bio-stub