The Contributions of J. E. Gilibert to the studies of Lithuanian flora
LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Botanika; Floros sistematizavimas; J. E. Gilibertas; Jean Emmanuel Gilibert; Klasifikacija; Lietuvos flora; Botany; Classification; Flora of Lithuania; J. E. Gilibert; Jean Emmanuel Gilibert; Lithuanian flora; Systematization of flora.
ENA French botanist, physician, and politician Jean Emmanuel Gilibert (1741-1814) spent a part of his life in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Between 1775 and 1781, Gilibert worked in Grodno, where he founded the School of Medicine, modernizing medicine and nature studies, and setting up a botanical garden. In 1781 he moved to Vilnius, founded the Chair of Historia Naluralis, set up a botanical garden, and organized teaching of the natural sciences at Vilnius University. In 1783 Gilibert left Vilnius and returned to Lyon, where he practiced medicine and participated in French political world. His biography and scientific activities were examined in considerable details by Witold Sławiński, Piotr Daszkiewicz, Wanda Grębecka, J. E. Gilibert’s contemporary Stanisław Jundziłł, Jakub Mowszowicz, Marija Natkevicaite; J.E. Gilibert himself also gave a lot of biographical information in the Introduction of the first volume of his book Exercitia Phytologica. During the years spent in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Gilibert collected local plants from the surroundings of Białystok, Brasta, Merkine, Navahradak, Nesvizh, Vilnius, Voke, Trakai, and Warsaw. Since 1781 till the end of his life he released aproximatelly 16 publications dealing with nature of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Majority of these publications included information aboul plants. At present we possess two types of J.E. Gilibert’s contributions to the studies of Lithuanian flora - his herbarium and his publications. Both of them have botanical and historical value. [Extract, p.69]
