Bauhin

Bauhin is a surname of Swiss origin best known for two early modern botanists, the brothers Gaspard (Gaspare) Bauhin and Johann (Jean) Bauhin, who lived and worked in Basel during the 16th and 17th centuries. They played a key role in the development of botany, contributing to plant classification and the practice of naming plants in a systematic way. Their work influenced subsequent generations of taxonomists and helped shape the science of botany in Europe.

Gaspard Bauhin was a physician and botanist who produced one of the era’s most comprehensive plant catalogs, Pinax theatri botani (1623). The work organized plant knowledge with descriptions and numerous synonymies, providing a valuable reference for identifying species and for understanding how names of plants related to one another. Pinax theatri botani became a foundational resource for later scholars and helped standardize aspects of plant nomenclature.

Johann Bauhin, the elder brother, also contributed to botany and collaborated with his sibling on the broader project of cataloging plant diversity. Their combined efforts culminated in substantial botanical compilations that informed later taxonomic systems and provided context for the evolving practice of naming and classifying plants, influencing generations of botanists.

Legacy and name recognition extend beyond the Bauhin brothers themselves. The genus Bauhinia, a group of flowering plants in the legume family, was named in their honor by Carl Linnaeus, reflecting the brothers’ enduring influence on plant science. The Bauhin name remains a historical reference point in the study of botany and plant taxonomy.