Franz Xaver von Wulfen

Franz Xaver Freiherr von Wulfen (* November 5, 1728 in Belgrade, † March 16, 1805 in Klagenfurt) was a Jesuit, botanist and mineralogist. He is best known as the discoverer of the Carinthian Wulfenie and the yellow lead ore Wulfenite. Its official botanical author abbreviation is " Wulfen ".

Life

Wulfen was born in Belgrade, the son of Feldmarschalleutnants Christian Friedrich von Wulfen.

After completing his education in Košice (then Hungary), he entered the Jesuit order in 1745. He studied philosophy, mathematics and theology. He worked as a teacher from 1755: 1755 in Gorizia, from 1756 at the Teresian Knight's Academy in Vienna, 1761 in Gorizia, 1762 in Ljubljana. In 1763 he made his religious vows. From 1764 he worked at the Lyceum in Klagenfurt, where he taught physics and mathematics. From 1769 he worked only as a pastor. After the end of his teaching career, and especially after the dissolution of the Jesuit order in 1773, he devoted himself to scientific research, particularly botany and mineralogy. 1797 a large part of its collection had been stolen by the French occupiers.

1799 and 1800 was Wulfen participants in Prince-Bishop Salm's expedition to the first ascent of the Grossglockner.

Wulfen was a member of the academies and scientific societies of Berlin, Erlangen, Jena, Göttingen, Klagenfurt, Stockholm. Among his many correspondents included Nikolaus Joseph Freiherr von Jacquin and Johann Christian Daniel Schreber.

Scientific research

Wulfens main research area was the Eastern Alps, the mountain and Talflora he explored intensively. He described several new species of plants, both flowering plants and cryptogams, especially lichens. Research travels took him often to the Adriatic Sea, but also to Holland.

Another area of research was the mineralogy. The Gelbbleierz he discovered in 1841 was named in his honor Wulfenite and he first described the opalescent Bleiberger shell marble.

One of the first described by Wulfen alpine plants include: Carinthian Kuhtritt or Wulfenie 1779, named in his honor by Nicolas Jacquin wulfenia carinthiaca.
Krainer bellflower ( Campanula zoysii ), in 1788, in honor of Carnia botanist Carl Zois.
Sticky Primrose ( Primula glutinosa)
Musk - saxifrage ( Saxifraga moschata)
Ciliated Androsace ( Androsace chamaejasme )
Musk Yarrow ( Achillea moschata)

Ulva stellata, now Anadyomene stellata ( Wulfen ) C. Agardh
Fucus Musciformis, now Hypnea Musciformis ( Wulfen ) JVLamour
Fucus filamentosus, now Spyridia filamentosa ( Wulfen ) Harv.
Fucus simplex, now Digenea simplex ( Wulfen ) C. Agardh

Effect

He was the genus wulfenia Jacq honor. the plant family of the plantain family ( Plantaginaceae ) named. Also Wulf Houseleek ( by Hoppe) and Wulf Mannsschild were named after him. A bust of Franz Xaver Wulfens stands in front of the European School, the successor of the Lyceum, in Klagenfurt. In addition, an alley in Klagenfurt, outgoing from Viktringer ring, named after him.

Works

Plantae rariores carinthiacae. In: Miscellanea austriaca ad botanicam, chemiam et historiam naturalem spectantia, ed. by NJ Jacquin, Vol 1 ( 1778) pp. 147-163 and Vol 2 (1781 ), pp. 25-183.
Treatise by the Carinthian lead Godfather, 1785
Plantae rariores carinthiacae. In: Collectanea as botanicam, chemiam et historiam naturalem, ed. by NJ Jacquin, Vol I ( 1786), pp. 186-364, Vol II (1788 ), pp. 112-234, Vol III (1789 ), pp. 3-166, Vol IV (1790) pp. 227 - 348
Descriptiones Quorumdam Capensium Insectorum, 1786 ( digitized )
Plantae rariores descriptae, 1803
Cryptogama aquatica, 1803
Flora Norica phanerogama, 1858, posthumous ed. by Eduard Fenzl and Count

Documents

The article is based on the following documents:

M. Klemun, GH people: Franz Xaver Wulfens travelogue from 1783, " On my trip to the highest peak of the Owirs ". In: The Hochobir. From nature and history: 13-48. - Klagenfurt: Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein für Kärnten, 1999.
Marianne Klemun: natural history, exchange and function of a scientific correspondence network. Franz Xaver Wulfens (1728-1805) letters to naturalists, especially to Johann Christian Daniel Schreber ( 1739-1810 ). Carinthia II 195./115. Jg: 253-268, 2005.
Entry in Catholic Encyclopedia (English)
Georgios Fatouros: WULFEN, Freiherr von Franz Xavier. In: Biographic- bibliographic church encyclopedia ( BBKL ). Volume 14, Bautz, Herzberg 1998, ISBN 3-88309-073-5, 167-168 Sp. (Articles / Articles beginning possibly in the Internet Archive )