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Gunnar Seidenfaden 1908-2001 Botanist and Diplomat

By admin | Dezember 25, 2009

Gunnar Seidenfaden (1908-2001)
was a Danish diplomat, botanist
and an expert on orchids from South Asia.
From 1926-1934 Gunnar Seidenfaden
has studied botany at the
University of Copenhagen.
From 1955-1959 he was Danish ambassador
in Thailand.
During his time in Thailand,
he started a cooperation
with the Royal Thai Forest Department
and arranged several collecting expeditions
during the years 1956 -1984.
Gunnar Seidenfaden published several books
on Orchidaceae from South Asia,
mostly decorated with his own drawings.
Some of his publications:
*The Orchids of Thailand: a Preliminary List (Seidenfaden & Smitinand, 1958–1964)
*Contributions to the Orchid Flora of Thailand (1969-1997)

Gunnar Seidenfaden described and categorised more then 120 new orchid species
and severel orchids are named to his honour.
His author abbreviation: Seidenf.
Gunnar Seidenfaden died at the age of 93 (09.02.2001),
his collection is kept in the Botanic Garden of Copenhagen.

One of the most wellknown Thai orchids,
described by Gunnar Seidenfaden:
Dendrobium unicum Seidenf.

© Orchids-Flowers.com
Image: Dendrobium unicum Seidenf.
Photographer: Posantor “Chocolate” Saelie

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