Bonpland, Aime Jacques Alexandre (1773 - 1858)

Born at La Rochelle, 29th August, 1773. He died 11th May, 1858, at San Francisco de Borja (Corrientes).

Studied botany and medicine, but his studies were interrupted by the troublous times. Introduced to Humboldt and went to America with him and collected and dried "more than 6,000 new plants." Visited Venezuela, Cuba, New Granada, Peru, Mexico (1799-1804). Napoleon gave him a pension and the Empress Josephine accepted rare American seeds for her garden at Malmaison from him. The post of '"Inten. dant " of her garden being vacant, Bonpland was appointed and remained until 1804-15. Author of "Descriptions des plantes rares cultivees a Malmaison et a Navarre," Paris 1813, Folio, 157 pages and 64 coloured plates (published in 11 parts). This beautiful work treats of the following Australian plants, mostly raised from seed brought home by Baudin's expedition:- .

Metrosideros (Callistemon) saligna,
Goodenia grandiflora,
Melaleuca chlorantha,
Gompholobium furcellatum,
Correa viridiflora,
Eucalyptus diversifolia,
Acacia linifolia,
Pittosporum tomentosum,
Zieria Smithii,
Tristania neriifolia,
Pimelea linifolia,
Metrosideros (Callistemon) glauca,
Chorizema ilicifolia,
Metrosideros (Callistemon) pallida,
Acacia subulata,
Banksia marcescens,
Elaeocarpus acuminatus,
Hovea celsi,
Bossioea coccinea,
Duvalia oxalidifolia,
Acacia armata.
There is no preface.

Emigrated to the Argentine, 1816, starting a medical practice at Buenos Ayres. Cultivated Mate at Santa Anna, was imprisoned by the Dictator of Paraguay (Francia) from: 1821-31, it being alleged that he was a French spy. He emigrated to Brazil (Rio Grande do SuI), and .thence to Uruguay, later in 1853 to the Corrientes Province, where he was Curator of the Natural History Museum. He died 11th May, 1858, at San Francisco de Borja ( Corrientes).

Besides the Malmaison work already referred to, he cooperated with Humboldt in various botanical workrs concerning South America.

The Australian Hydrocotyle bonplandi A. Rich.commemorates him.

Source: Maiden, J.H. (1910) Records of the earlier French botanists as regards Australian plants. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales for 1910. 44:123-155.