Simon Schwendener facts for kids
Simon Schwendener was a famous Swiss botanist, a scientist who studies plants. He was born in Buchs, Switzerland, on February 10, 1829. He lived a long life, passing away on May 27, 1919.
Simon Schwendener spent many years teaching and researching at different universities. He earned his highest degree, a doctorate, in Zurich in 1856. He then worked as a professor of botany, the study of plants, at several important universities. These included the University of Munich, the University of Basel, the University of Tübingen, and finally the University of Berlin. He taught at the University of Berlin from 1878 until he retired in 1910.
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What Simon Schwendener Studied
Simon Schwendener is best known for his deep studies into how plants are built and how they work. He was very interested in the connection between a plant's structure and its functions. He believed that the way a plant was put together followed the rules of mechanics, like how machines work.
How Plants Work
He did a lot of research on many interesting topics, including:
- How sap moves up inside a plant.
- The structure of a leaf's pulvinus, which helps leaves move.
- Why plant leaves are positioned in certain ways.
- How tiny openings on leaves, called stomata, work with their special guard cells to control gases.
Lichens: A Big Discovery
In 1867, Schwendener shared a very new idea with other scientists. He suggested that lichens were not just one organism, but actually two different organisms living together. He said that a lichen was made up of a fungus and an alga working as a team. At first, many scientists did not believe him. However, his idea was later proven to be completely true! This discovery changed how people understood lichens.
His Students
During his long career, Simon Schwendener taught and helped many students who later became famous scientists themselves. Some of these included Carl Correns, Gottlieb Haberlandt, and Otto Heinrich Warburg.
Awards and Recognition
Simon Schwendener received many honors for his important work.
- On May 1, 1884, he was chosen as a Foreign Member of the Linnean Society of London.
- A plant genus, a group of plants, called Schwendenera was named after him to honor his contributions to botany. This plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family.
