404 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 



fatally. Although learned in almost every department of his 

 science, his forte, like that of Agassiz, was morphology, and 

 his systematic work mainly among the higher and some of the 

 lower Cryptogamia, Marsilia, Isoetes, Chara, etc. Although his 

 communications to the scientific journals began as early as 

 the year 1822, when he was only seventeen years old, his 

 first contribution to science, of much extent and of high and 

 permanent value, was his memoir on the arrangement of the 

 scales of Pine-cones, etc., published in 1830. With this pub- 

 lication began the present knowledge of phyllotaxis. It is 

 well understood that the first steps were taken by his fellow- 

 student Carl Schimper, and that the early investigations were 

 pursued in common by the two. But Schimper published 

 nothing, or next to nothing, either then or since, although he 

 lived until the year 1867. His name in connection with the 

 subject is preserved by the favorable mention of his compan- 

 ions and contemporaries ; but Braun's treatise was timely and 

 fruitful, and became classical. Braun's ability for the philo- 

 sophical treatment of vegetable morphology and development 

 was manifested in his next large paper, namely, in his me- 

 moir entitled " Rejuvenescence in Nature," especially in the 

 life and development of plants. This was first published at 

 Freiburg in 1849-50, and again at Leipsic in 1851, and an 

 English translation of it was published by the Ray Society in 

 1853. Of a similar character, and marked with equal acute- 

 ness, is his essay on " The Vegetable Individual in its relation 

 to Species," etc., published in 1853, at Berlin, and which, in a 

 translation by a pupil of mine, was mainly reproduced in this 

 Journal (May and September, 1855). He reaches the con- 

 clusion — which would now be more confidently expressed — 

 "that the individual appears in its full import only in the 

 higher steps of the series of created beings." 



In his systematical work, Braun was exceedingly laborious, 

 persevering, and conscientious. When we add that through- 

 out the riper and what should have been the most productive 

 years of his life, he was overtasked with official duties and 

 cares, we shall not wonder that much which he hoped to ac- 

 complish is left undone. His work upon Marsilia, Pilularia, 



