Vicente Cervantes facts for kids

Vicente Cervantes (born in 1755 in Ledrada, Spain – died in 1829 in Mexico) was an important Spanish and Mexican doctor and plant expert. He taught about plants and helped discover many new species.

A Life Dedicated to Plants

Vicente Cervantes was a very smart person who loved studying plants. He lived at the same time as other famous plant scientists like Martín Sessé y Lacasta. Cervantes also wrote letters to Jean-Louis Berlandier, a French plant expert who explored Mexico and Texas.

Cervantes was the very first Professor of Botany in a place called New Spain. This was the name for Mexico when it was ruled by Spain. He taught at the Royal Botanic Garden in Mexico City. This garden was a special place where people studied and grew many different kinds of plants.

Plants Named After Cervantes

Because of his great work, a beautiful orchid was named after him. It's called the "Cervantes Odontoglot" (Odontoglossum cervantesii). This shows how much he was respected in the world of plant science.

Another plant expert, Juan Diego del Castillo, joined Cervantes in Mexico. Sadly, Del Castillo passed away in 1793. He left a lot of money to help print a book they were planning. The book was going to be called Flora Mexicana, which means "Plants of Mexico." To honor his friend, Cervantes named a group of trees after him. This group of trees is called Castilla. These trees are special because they produce a lot of latex, which is a milky sap.

See also

In Spanish: Vicente Cervantes para niños