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John Jacob Lavranos

October 28, 2023

John Jacob Lavranos (29 March 1926, in Corfu – 1 February 2018, in Portugal) was a Greek/South African insurance broker and botanist, with a special interest in succulents. The standard author abbreviation Lavranos is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.[1] He scientifically described almost 300 new species of plants, and a number have been named in his honor.[2]

John Lavranos in his garden in Loulé, Portugal
On the road down from the Mait Escarpment north of Erigavo, Somalia, 1969
Lavrania cactiformis

Early life edit

John's mother, Lily, was half Swiss/German, and lived for most of her married life in the family house in Chlomos in Corfu. She and her husband Philip cared for John and his younger brother, Max, saw the occupation of Corfu during WWII, and lived through the bombings by Italians, Germans, British and Americans, only to be plunged immediately into the Greek Civil War of 1946 to 1949.

At the end of the War having served in the Greek Navy, John studied economics and law at the University of Athens, earning a B.Sc. (Econ.) degree in 1948. He arrived in South Africa in September 1952 with his first wife, Helen, and started work as an insurance broker. In 1967 he studied for a B.Sc. in Natural Science through the University of South Africa, and the following year enrolled at the University of Witwatersrand for an M.Sc. degree in botany and geography.[3]

Botanical work and later life edit

Over a period of more than 50 years, Lavranos undertook numerous visits to remote regions in southern Arabia, Somalia and Socotra, Kenya and Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Reunion Island, Mauritius, Canary Islands, Greece, and in his final years, the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Chile. His trips through South Africa included Namaqualand, Mpumalanga, and the Richtersveld. He discovered and described many new species of succulent plants, collaborating with organisations such as the National Museum of Natural History (France), the Institute of Tropical Botany of Florence, Kew Gardens, Jardin Exotique de Monaco, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. His contributions were published mainly in the 'Cactus & Succulent Journal', and he confined himself to Asclepiadaceae, Pelargoniums, Aloes and other succulents. His collection of pressed specimens numbered some 32 000, and he described or co-described approximately 180 taxa.[3]

He settled in Loulé, a city near Faro in the Algarve region of southern Portugal in 1995 and donated most of his plants to the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens. Maintaining his passion for plants, he continued an active correspondence with other botanists, often setting aside time for succulent enthusiasts.

If the last century of contributions to our knowledge of succulents plants could be compared to a large greenhouse, then John Lavranos would be one of the supporting poles near the center. Not only has he found so many of Mother Nature's well hidden and most beautiful succulent treasures, but he has shared the resulting knowledge and material with utmost generosity. The combination of skills needed to do what he has done so far is only rarely found in a single human, and more than once have I heard the word genius used where John was discussed. But please note the emphasis in the last sentence, because at 80, John still regularly goes exploring in Africa, Madagascar and the Yemen! No doubt this Pablo Picasso of the succulent plant world will keep on doing his thing for more than another decade. So this issue, dedicated to John, is definitely no premature homage, but rather a long overdue applause of respect and appreciation for all that he has contributed... so far.

— Gerhard Marx in Vol 78-2 of 'Cactus and Succulent Journal' (March–April 2006)

He is commemorated in the genus Lavrania in the family Apocynaceae, Aloe lavranosii Reynolds, Eriospermum lavranosii P.L.Perry, Caralluma lavranii Rauh & Wertel, Sarcocaulon lavranii Halda, Phagnalon lavranosii Qaiser & Lack [4][5] Aloe lavranosii is from Yemen and is unusual in being hairy with yellow-green flowers.[6][7]

Crassula susannae was named for Suzanne Lavranos, the second wife of John Lavranos.[8] Caralluma mireillae Lavranos, was named after John's third wife, Mireille, who died in 2014, and whom he had met in Djibouti. She was very supportive of his botanical explorations and often accompanied him. All three of John's marriages were childless.

John was known to be pragmatic, forthright, precise, energetic, and with a lively sense of humour. His knowledge of botany and geology was formidable, and this extended to climatology, geography, astronomy, history and music–he was an accomplished pianist earlier in his life. Despite being an agnostic, his Biblical knowledge was extensive. He was a polyglot and comfortable in Ancient Greek and Latin, and fluent in Greek, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Afrikaans. He succumbed in Loulé, Portugal following a stroke.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ International Plant Names Index.  Lavranos.
  2. ^ McCoy, Tom (2018). "John Jacob Lavranos (1926–2018) – the end of an era". CactusWorld. 36 (3): 178–180. ISSN 1751-1429. JSTOR 27043495.
  3. ^ a b Roy Mottram: The Cactician, Vol 12, The life and work of a botanical explorer: John Jacob Lavranos. (online PDF)
  4. ^ COCHARD, Yann. "Au Cactus Francophone : Fiche de : Lavranos, John Jacob". www.cactuspro.com. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  5. ^ Gunn, Mary; Codd, L. E. W. (1981). Botanical Exploration Southern Africa. CRC Press. p. 217. ISBN 978-0-86961-129-6.
  6. ^ "Alfredo Reyes on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Note #6 Portrait of John Lavranos, Pelargonium Plantsman – Pelargonium Notes". pelargonium.si. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  8. ^ . Archived from the original on 25 November 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  9. ^ pers. comm. from Angelo Lavranos

External links edit

  • 'The plant gatherings and other vouchers of John J Lavranos Part 1' - Roy Mottram
  • 'The plant gatherings and other vouchers of John J Lavranos Part 2' - Roy Mottram
  • 'John Lavranos, Pelargonium plantsman' - Matija Strlic

October 28, 2023
john, jacob, lavranos, march, 1926, corfu, february, 2018, portugal, greek, south, african, insurance, broker, botanist, with, special, interest, succulents, standard, author, abbreviation, lavranos, used, indicate, this, person, author, when, citing, botanica. John Jacob Lavranos 29 March 1926 in Corfu 1 February 2018 in Portugal was a Greek South African insurance broker and botanist with a special interest in succulents The standard author abbreviation Lavranos is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name 1 He scientifically described almost 300 new species of plants and a number have been named in his honor 2 John Lavranos in his garden in Loule PortugalOn the road down from the Mait Escarpment north of Erigavo Somalia 1969Lavrania cactiformis Contents 1 Early life 2 Botanical work and later life 3 References 4 External linksEarly life editJohn s mother Lily was half Swiss German and lived for most of her married life in the family house in Chlomos in Corfu She and her husband Philip cared for John and his younger brother Max saw the occupation of Corfu during WWII and lived through the bombings by Italians Germans British and Americans only to be plunged immediately into the Greek Civil War of 1946 to 1949 At the end of the War having served in the Greek Navy John studied economics and law at the University of Athens earning a B Sc Econ degree in 1948 He arrived in South Africa in September 1952 with his first wife Helen and started work as an insurance broker In 1967 he studied for a B Sc in Natural Science through the University of South Africa and the following year enrolled at the University of Witwatersrand for an M Sc degree in botany and geography 3 Botanical work and later life editOver a period of more than 50 years Lavranos undertook numerous visits to remote regions in southern Arabia Somalia and Socotra Kenya and Tanzania Mozambique Madagascar Reunion Island Mauritius Canary Islands Greece and in his final years the southwestern United States Mexico and Chile His trips through South Africa included Namaqualand Mpumalanga and the Richtersveld He discovered and described many new species of succulent plants collaborating with organisations such as the National Museum of Natural History France the Institute of Tropical Botany of Florence Kew Gardens Jardin Exotique de Monaco and the Missouri Botanical Garden His contributions were published mainly in the Cactus amp Succulent Journal and he confined himself to Asclepiadaceae Pelargoniums Aloes and other succulents His collection of pressed specimens numbered some 32 000 and he described or co described approximately 180 taxa 3 He settled in Loule a city near Faro in the Algarve region of southern Portugal in 1995 and donated most of his plants to the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Maintaining his passion for plants he continued an active correspondence with other botanists often setting aside time for succulent enthusiasts If the last century of contributions to our knowledge of succulents plants could be compared to a large greenhouse then John Lavranos would be one of the supporting poles near the center Not only has he found so many of Mother Nature s well hidden and most beautiful succulent treasures but he has shared the resulting knowledge and material with utmost generosity The combination of skills needed to do what he has done so far is only rarely found in a single human and more than once have I heard the word genius used where John was discussed But please note the emphasis in the last sentence because at 80 John still regularly goes exploring in Africa Madagascar and the Yemen No doubt this Pablo Picasso of the succulent plant world will keep on doing his thing for more than another decade So this issue dedicated to John is definitely no premature homage but rather a long overdue applause of respect and appreciation for all that he has contributed so far Gerhard Marx in Vol 78 2 of Cactus and Succulent Journal March April 2006 He is commemorated in the genus Lavrania in the family Apocynaceae Aloe lavranosii Reynolds Eriospermum lavranosii P L Perry Caralluma lavranii Rauh amp Wertel Sarcocaulon lavranii Halda Phagnalon lavranosii Qaiser amp Lack 4 5 Aloe lavranosii is from Yemen and is unusual in being hairy with yellow green flowers 6 7 Crassula susannae was named for Suzanne Lavranos the second wife of John Lavranos 8 Caralluma mireillae Lavranos was named after John s third wife Mireille who died in 2014 and whom he had met in Djibouti She was very supportive of his botanical explorations and often accompanied him All three of John s marriages were childless John was known to be pragmatic forthright precise energetic and with a lively sense of humour His knowledge of botany and geology was formidable and this extended to climatology geography astronomy history and music he was an accomplished pianist earlier in his life Despite being an agnostic his Biblical knowledge was extensive He was a polyglot and comfortable in Ancient Greek and Latin and fluent in Greek English German French Italian Spanish Portuguese Arabic and Afrikaans He succumbed in Loule Portugal following a stroke 9 References edit International Plant Names Index Lavranos McCoy Tom 2018 John Jacob Lavranos 1926 2018 the end of an era CactusWorld 36 3 178 180 ISSN 1751 1429 JSTOR 27043495 a b Roy Mottram The Cactician Vol 12 The life and work of a botanical explorer John Jacob Lavranos online PDF COCHARD Yann Au Cactus Francophone Fiche de Lavranos John Jacob www cactuspro com Retrieved 26 October 2018 Gunn Mary Codd L E W 1981 Botanical Exploration Southern Africa CRC Press p 217 ISBN 978 0 86961 129 6 Alfredo Reyes on Twitter Twitter Retrieved 26 October 2018 Note 6 Portrait of John Lavranos Pelargonium Plantsman Pelargonium Notes pelargonium si Retrieved 26 October 2018 Women and Cacti Archived from the original on 25 November 2009 Retrieved 19 February 2018 pers comm from Angelo LavranosExternal links edit The plant gatherings and other vouchers of John J Lavranos Part 1 Roy Mottram The plant gatherings and other vouchers of John J Lavranos Part 2 Roy Mottram John Lavranos Pelargonium plantsman Matija Strlic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Jacob Lavranos amp oldid 1112896266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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