The immigration of Norwegian flora formed the subject of a critical 1876 essay by Axel Gudbrand Blytt that drew the attention of Charles Darwin. A central figure in nineteenth-century Scandinavian science, Blytt bridged the disciplines of botany, geology, and mycology while establishing a long-term academic career at the University of Oslo in his native city of Christiania.
Academic Foundation and Early Career
Born in 1843, Blytt followed the professional path established by his father, Matthias Numsen Blytt, a professor of botany at the Royal Frederick University. Axel completed his Examen artium at the same institution in 1860. Following his father's death in 1862, he took over the stewardship of the family's extensive research into Norwegian plant life. His formal institutional tenure began in 1865 at the Christiania Herbarium, where he served as a conservator before his advancement to a professorship in 1880.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Scientific Contributions and Publications
Blytt published extensively on the regional flora and geology of Norway. His significant two-volume work, Norges Flora, appeared in 1874 and 1876, building upon the foundations laid by his father. His research interests also extended to mycology, evidenced by titles such as Vore beste spiselige Soparter in 1869 and Spiselige Lavarter in 1870. His 1889 paper, The Probable Cause of the Displacement of Beach-lines, demonstrated his ongoing engagement with geological epoch calculations. Following his death in 1898, the botanist Ove Dahl finalized and published his comprehensive manuscript, Haandbog i Norges flora, in 1906.
Professional Recognition and Legacy
Blytt was a member of both the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. His early excellence earned him the Crown Prince's gold medal in 1869. His legacy persists through geographic and biological naming conventions, including the Blyttberget crag on Jan Mayen and various mosses designated by Wilhelm Schimper. His physical collections remain archived at the Botanical Museum of the University of Oslo, with further specimens attributed to him residing in the Buffalo Museum of Science in New York.
Fast facts
- Born: 1843, Christiania, Norway
- Died: 1898, Christiania, Norway
- Education: University of Oslo
- Primary occupations: Botanist, geologist, mycologist
- Notable honor: Crown Prince's gold medal (1869)
- Professional membership: German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
- Final resting place: Vår Frelsers gravlund
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of his 1876 essay?
It detailed the immigration of Norwegian flora and received direct attention from Charles Darwin.
Where are his plant specimens currently held?
The majority are at the Botanical Museum of the University of Oslo, with a small collection located at the Buffalo Museum of Science.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Oslo
- Educated at University of Oslo
- Fields of research: botany, geology, mycology and paleontology
.jpg)