Gustav Wallis

Gustav Wallis (1 May 1830 – 20 June 1878) was a German plant collector who introduced over 1,000 plant species to Europe, many of which were named after him. He was particularly focused on orchid hunting during the Victorian orchid craze, but also was the first European collector of plants such as large-leaved Anthurium specimens that continue to be among the most sought after today.

Early life

Wallis was born in Lüneburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany, where his father was an advocate. Wallis was deaf and mute until six years of age, and it was not until 1836 that he was able to talk. As a consequence, he suffered from a speech defect during his entire life.

Jean Linden In 1858, he was engaged as a plant-collector by Jean Linden’s orchid company, L’Horticulture Internationale, of Brussels. Wallis then began a hazardous journey, crossing the continent of South America, starting at the mouth of the River Amazon and traversing the total length to its source, exploring the river and many of its more important tributaries.

James Veitch & Sons In 1870, he was engaged by James Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, London, who sent him to the Philippines to search for orchids of the Phalaenopsis species which were indigenous to those islands. Although he was able to make sufficient finds to send a shipment back to England, including Paphiopedilum argus, P. haynaldianum, Dendrobium amethystoglossum and Lilium philippinense, the mission proved too expensive to be considered a success and Wallis had to be recalled. He recovered from his illness and was able to re-commence work, but his second attack, combined with dysentery, proved fatal. His last letter was dated Cuenca, Ecuador, 24 March 1878, where, according to the collector Edward Klaboch, Wallis died in hospital on 20 June.

Honours

Amongst the plants named after Wallis are: Anthurium wallisii Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. wallisii Homalomena wallisii Houlletia wallisii Masdevallia wallisii Spathiphyllum wallisii Stenospermation wallisii Zamia wallisii