Gustav Eisen
| Gustav Eisen | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 2, 1847 , Sweden |
| Died | 1940 |
| Fields | Zoology Horticulture |
| Institutions | California Academy of Sciences |
| Alma mater | University of Uppsala |
| Known for | Studies of worms; Cultivation of raisins and figs |
Gustav Eisen worked at the California Academy of Sciences. He became a member of the Academy in 1874 and a Life Member in 1883. In 1893, he became the 'Curator of Archaeology, Ethnology, and Lower Animals' at the Academy. He later changed titles to 'Curator of Marine Invertebrates'. In 1938, he was appointed as an 'Honorary Member', which is considered the highest honor from the Academy.
He was known to have diverse interests, including "art and art history, archeology and anthropology, agronomy and horticulture, history of science, geography and cartography, cytology, and protozoology, as well as marine invertebrate zoology"
A 2012 article in the San Francisco Chronicle describes him as, "One of those 19th century polymaths, Eisen also studied malaria-vector mosquitoes, founded a vineyard in Fresno, introduced avocados and Smyrna figs to California, campaigned to save the giant sequoias, and wrote a multivolume book about the Holy Grail."
He is perhaps best known for his studies of oligochete worms and many species were named after him including those in the genus Eisenia Eisenia (annelid). In addition, he is considered to have been responsible for the introduction of the avocado and the smyrna fig to California and he wrote a detailed history of figs
He was a correspondent of Charles Darwin and his work was referenced by Darwin in The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Worms
Mt. Eisen, in the Sierra Nevada in California, was named after him.
Eisen's opinions were sought on the practicalities of new horticulture crops in Australia. His advice was valued in fig cultivation and in processing grapes into raisins.
Worms
Red algae
Vascular Plants
...
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