Mohl, Hugo von

Mohl, Hugo von

(ho͞o`gō fən mōl), 1805–72, German botanist. He is noted for his research on the nature of protoplasmprotoplasm,
term once used for the fundamental material of which all living things were thought to be composed. It was studied by a number of early scientists, especially by Félix Dujardin, J. E. Purkinje, M. J. S.
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 and chlorophyll and on the physiology of higher plant forms. Mohl was professor of botany at the Univ. of Tübingen from 1835. He was an expert on microscopy and laid the foundation for later work on the structure of palms and cycads. His works include Principles of the Anatomy and Physiology of the Vegetable Cell (1851, tr. 1852) and a collection of important papers Vermischte Schriften botanischen Inhalts [miscellaneous botanical writings] (1845).

Mohl, Hugo von

 

Born Apr. 8, 1805, in Stuttgart; died Apr. 1, 1872, in Tübingen. German botanist, one of the founders of plant cytology.

Mohl was a professor at universities in Bern (1832–35) and Tübingen (1835–72). Between 1844 and 1846 he discovered and named protoplasm and offered a hypothesis concerning its role in cell life. He described cell division, the development of cell membranes, and the structure of many plant organs. Mohl proposed a classification of plant tissues and proved the cellular origin of the vessels of the conducting system. He also observed the formation of starch in chloroplasts. He founded the journal Botanische Zeitung in 1843.

REFERENCE

Bary, A. de. “Hugo von Mohl.” Botanische Zeitung. 1872, vol. 30, no. 31. (With references.)