Carl Sigismund Kunth

Carl Sigismund Kunth (18 June 1788 – 22 March 1850) was a German botanist. He was also known as Karl Sigismund Kunth or anglicized as Charles Sigismund Kunth. He was one of the early systematic botanists who focused on studying the plants of the Americas.

Kunth's notable contributions include the publication of Nova genera et species plantarum quas in peregrinatione ad plagam aequinoctialem orbis novi collegerunt Bonpland et Humboldt. This work spanned seven volumes and was published between 1815 and 1825.

Growing up, Kunth's father didn't have enough money for him to continue studying at the Leipzig Rathsschule. His uncle paid for him to move to Berlin, then a part of Prussia, and take a position at the Seehandlungsgesellschaft when he was 18. Connections through his uncle and Willdenow led Kunth to meet Alexander von Humboldt, who facilitated his attendance at lectures held at the newly established University of Berlin. Originally Bonpland was going to write up the botanical notes and plant descriptions — however, Humboldt felt he was taking too long to do so, partly because of his work as head gardener for Napoleon's wife Josephine de Beauharnais. It once took Bonpland eight months to describe ten plants; Humboldt wrote back, saying "any botanist in Europe could do this in a fortnight." He wanted him to have a solid foundational understanding of mountain ecosystems, so that when he accompanied Humboldt to India he could describe them accurately, as well as be able to draw comparisons between the two regions. These were detailed descriptions of plant species that he observed on his various travels and while working at the botanical gardens in Berlin, as well as specimens he studied that were sent to him from friends in the field. Additionally, Gaudichaud named a Hawaiian fern species, Doodia kunthiana (family Blechnaceae), after him. Another floral tribute is the Nilgiri flower Strobilanthes kunthiana.

Note: Kunth = C.S. Kunth; H.B.K. = Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth

Selected publications

, Les mimosees et autres plantes legumineuses du nouveau continent (1819) Synopsis plantarum quas in itinere ad plagain aequinoctialem orbis novi collegerunt Humboldt et Bonpland (1822–3) Les graminees de l'Amerique du Sud (2 vols., 1825–1833) Handbuch der Botanik (Berlin, 1831)

Lehrbuch der Botanik (1847) Les melastomees et autres plantes legumineuses de l'Amerique du Sud (1847–1852)