Johann Gottlieb Gleditsch

Johann Gottlieb Gleditsch (1714 to 1786) was a German physician and botanist, born in Leipzig and died in Berlin, known for pioneering investigations of plant sexuality and reproduction. He studied medicine and other subjects at the University of Leipzig from 1728 to 1735. From 1742 he lectured in physiology, botany and materia medica at the University of Frankfurt, then moved to Berlin as professor of botany at the Collegium Medico-chirurgicum and director of the botanical garden. From 1770 he also lectured at the new institute of forestry, where he helped give forestry a scientific basis. His experiments on plant movement showed the influence of climate on plant organs, and his view of the role of insects in pollination was ahead of its time. The plant genus Gleditsia is named for him.