226 



Annals of Horticulture. 



Fig. 52. 



HEINRICH GUSTAV REICHENBACH. 



{Cut from Gardeners' 1 Chronicle.) 



Professor Reichenbach, the recognized leader in orchido- 

 logy ? died May 6th. He was born in Leipsig, Jan. 3, 1823. 

 His graduation essay was on the origin and structure of orchid 

 pollen. This was published in 1852, from which time his 

 talents were devoted to orchid study. From 1863 to the time 

 of his death he held the professorship of botany and the di- 

 rectorship of the botanic gardens at Hamburgh. 



"Since the death of Dr. Lindley, in November, 1865, Professor Reichen- 

 bach had been universally recognized as the orchid king. He had studied 

 orchids since 1841, and was a most devoted and painstaking historian of the 

 order, whose descriptions of new species and varieties were always eagerly 

 anticipated, whose identification of plants sent to him for that purpose was 

 always accepted without question. For many years past he took a leading 

 part at most of the great horticultural and botanical congresses held in 

 Europe, and was one of the vice-presidents of the congress held in London 

 in connection with the memorable International Horticultural Exhibition 

 held in 1866. But for indisposition he would have been present also at the 

 Orchid Conference held at South Kensington in 1885 ; but the great and 

 valuable services he had rendered to orchid growers were not forgotten in 

 his absence, and he was awarded one of the Veitch Memorial Medals, 

 placed at the disposal of the Conference Committee by the trustees. 



