Gunnar Seidenfaden
Gunnar Seidenfaden | |
---|---|
Born | 1908 |
Died | 9 February 2001 | (aged 92–93)
Alma mater | University of Copenhagen |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Botany |
Author abbrev. (botany) | Seidenf. |
Gunnar Seidenfaden (1908 – 9 February 2001) was a
In June 2016, it was decided that the collection of orchid samples, which was held in the Danish capital botanical garden
Biography
Gunnar Seidenfaden studied botany in the faculty of biological sciences at the
During
After the war, he was dispatched as economic attaché at the Danish embassy in
In 1938, he won a Scandinavian contest for the best popular science book with “Modern Arctic Exploration”.[2] During his time in Thailand, he initiated a long-standing cooperation with the Royal Thai Forest Department, with which he arranged a number of collecting expeditions until the mid-1980s. In 1951 he was awarded the knighthood of the Order of the Dannebrog, and in 1957 he was given the same of the 1st degree. In 1964 he was made Commander of Dannebrog, of the 1st degree in 1974, and also Commander of the Dutch Order of Oranien-Nassau (Huisorde van Oranje).
Personal life
He was the son of district attorney and Copenhagen's chief constable Aage Valdemar Seidenfaden (1877–1966) and Anna Elise Reenberg Teilman Harck (1887–1928). He married Alix Emilie (Lulu) Arnstedt (1914-1993), daughter of ambassador Niels Peder Arnstedt (1882-1954) and Johanne Larsen (1889-1974) and had five children. He was the brother of the journalist and editor Erik Seidenfaden (1910-1990). He was the nephew of Major Erik Seidenfaden (1881–1958), Danish ethnologist and anthropologist who specialized in Thai culture.
He described at least 120 new species. The
sharks, including the subtaxa Fadenia crenulata (E. Nielsen, 1932), Fadenia gigas (Eaton 1962) and Fadenia uroclasmata (Mutter and Nueman 2008).The Royal Danish Navy operates the 1.660 tons environmental vessel A561 Gunnar Seidenfaden, the second of the two such ships, which was named after him as a botanist. Organizationally, Gunnar Seidenfaden belongs to division 17 (2nd environmental division) in the 1st squadron. Built by Ørskov Christensen Stålskibsværft A/S, Frederikshavn, it was launched in 1981, and before 1996 belonged to the Ministry of the Environment. On 1 January 1996, the ship was transferred to the Royal Danish Navy. The vessel, which is painted in orange-red and cream colors to indicate their civilian purpose, has been on many occasions been deployed to fight oil pollution in Danish waters and also abroad, such as in 2002, when it participated in the clean-up after the sinking of the tanker Prestige off the northwest coast of Spain.
References
- ^ "Gunnar Seidenfaden and his heritage: developments in the diversity and organization of Thai orchid studies". Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany), (37), 156-168. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
- ^ Seidenfaden, G. (1938) Moderne Arktisk Forskning, Copenhagen. English edition 1939, Modern Arctic Exploration, with a preface by Peter Freuchen, translated by Naomi Walford. 189 pp.
- ^ International Plant Names Index. Seidenf.
Other sources
- K. S. Manilal, C. Sathish Kumar (2004) Orchid Memories A Tribute to Gunnar Seidenfaden (Mentor Books for Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy) ISBN 9788190032469
- Erik Lund (2016) Fire millioner frie ord - Det illegale nyhedsbureau »INFORMATION« august 1943 – maj 1945 (Institut for Presseforskning og Samtidshistorie)
External links
- Gunnar Seidenfaden and his heritage: developments in the diversity and organisation of Thai orchids studies by Henrik Æ. Pedersen, Santi Watthana, Kanok-Orn Srimuang