Adolpho Ducke - Traços biográficos, viagens e trabalhos.

Abstract

This work gives forth biographical traits of the late botanist Adolpho Ducke, as well as a detailed report on his field trips, taxonomic studies and publications. Born in Trieste, in the year of 1876, he was engaged in 1899 by Emílio Goeldi to work as an entomologist for the Museu Paraense (Belém, State of Pará, Brazil), where he stayed up to 1918. Under dr. Jacques Huber´s influence, botanist who succed Goeldi at the direction of the Museu Paraense. he entered this field of research and was so well trained, that after the death of his adviser he dedicated himself exclusively to the study of botany. he worked mostly on Amazonian species, chiefly of the grat family of Leguminosae. He published 180 papers and monographs. Of this total, two thirds on botanical subjects. 1050 new entidies were added to scientific knowledge: 900 new species, 50 genus, 80 varieties and almost 20 forms. His field trips covered pratically all of the Amazonian region, with repeated excursions to the same place. besides the Museu Paraense (now Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi), he colaborated with others institutions such as jardim Botãnico (rio de Janeiro) and Instituto Agronômico do Norte (Belém). Adolpho Ducke died in Fortaleza, State of Ceará in january, 5th., 1959.