Turhan Baytop

Turhan Baytop ( born June 20, 1920 in Üsküdar, † 25 June 2002, Istanbul) was a Turkish pharmacologist and botanist. His botanical author abbreviation is " T.Baytop ".

Baytop studied until 1948 at the Eczacı Okulu ( School of Pharmacy) in Istanbul. In 1948, he completed a doctorate on the phytochemical investigation of Ephedra. From 1951 to 1952 he studied at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Paris. In 1963 he became professor of pharmacognosy at the University of Istanbul. He was 1963-1987 Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy. Baytop retired in 1987.

Baytop collected more than ten thousand dried plants, which were included in the Herbarium of the University of Istanbul. In addition, he gave the herbaria of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the Botanic Garden Edinburgh more plant specimens. It dealt mainly with the identification of plants from Turkey. In particular, such was his interest with medicinal value, such as Timeless, foxglove and poppies. He was also specialize in tubers of the families of lilies, irises and daffodils.

Baytop was married to Asuman Baytop, who was also a professor. Both daughter Feza Günergun is historian of science today. After Baytop, or the couple Baytop, various plants were named, such as Allium baytopiorum, Astragalus baytopianus, baytopiorum Colchicum, Crocus baytopiorum, Galium baytopiorum, Nepeta and Stachys baytopii baytopiorum.

Literature (selection )

• Türkiye'de bitkiler ile tedavi. İstanbul Üniversitesi Yayınları, Istanbul 1984, ISBN 975-420-021-1.
• The Bulbous Plants of Turkey. Batsford Ltd., London 1984, ISBN 0-7134-4517-3.
• Türk Tarihi Eczacılık. İstanbul Üniversitesi Yayınları, Istanbul 1985.
• İstanbul Lalesi. Kültür Bakanlığı Yayınları, Ankara 1992.
• Türkçe Bitki Adlari Sözlüğü. Türk Dil Kurumu Yayınları, Ankara 1994.
• Eczâhâne'den Eczane'ye. Türkiye'de Eczaneler ve Eczacılar ( 1800-1923 ). Bayer Türk Sağlık Ürünleri Bölümü Yayını, Istanbul 1995.
• Laboratuvar'dan Fabrika'ya. Türkiye'de İlaç Sanayii ( 1833-1954 ). Bayer Türk Sağlık Ürünleri Bölümü Yayını, Istanbul 1997.
• Türk Tarihi Eczacılık Araştırmaları. Abdi İbrahim Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. İlaç Yayını, Istanbul 2000.
• Türkiye'de Eski Bahçe Gülleri. Kültür Bakanlığı Yayınları, Ankara 2001.
• İstanbul Florası Araştırmaları. Eren Yayıncılık, Istanbul 2002.