Axel Gudbrand Blytt (19 May 1843 – 18 July 1898) was aNorwegian professor,botanist andgeologist. He was the author of a number of books regarding the flora of Norway. Today he is most associated with his role in developing theBlytt-Sernander theory of climatic change.[1]
Blytt was born in Kristiania (nowOslo), Norway. He was the son ofMatthias Numsen Blytt (1789–1862) and Ambrosia Henriksen (1822–1900). His father was a noted professor ofbotany atThe Royal Frederick University (now University of Oslo). He graduatedExamen artium from Royal Frederick University in 1860. After the death of his father in 1862, he continued his father's work with Norwegianflora. Axel Blytt served with the Christiania Herbarium at theUniversity of Oslo from 1865, first as a conservator, then from 1880 as a professor. In 1869, he was awarded the Crown Prince's gold medal (Kronprinsens gullmedalje).[2][3]
Based partly on his father's work, he publishedNorges Flora in two volumes during 1874 and 1876. His work,Essay on the Immigration of Norwegian Flora (1876) was read by and influencedCharles Darwin.[4]He died in Oslo during 1898. His workHaandbog i Norges flora was completed and published posthumously by botanistOve Dahl during 1906.[5]
Blyttberget, a highcrag southeast ofNordlaguna on the Norwegian island ofJan Mayen, is named for him.[6] The German botanistWilhelm Schimper named several mosses after him as well.
The remaining existent specimens Blytt collected on his studies are held at the Botanical Museum of theUniversity of Oslo. TheBuffalo Museum of Science inBuffalo, New York also holds a collection of specimens attributed to a collector identified as "Blytt", who is likely Axel Blytt. This is evidenced byCharles Peck, the New York State Botanist from 1883 to 1913, in his 1872Report of the Botanist to the New York Senate.[7] Peck wrote that he had received 22 specimens of lichens from the University of Norway, Christiana (Oslo), Norway, for the New York State Cabinet. There is also a mention of Blytt in correspondence between the Swiss botanistLeo Lesquereux andGeorge W. Clinton, then President of theBuffalo Society of Natural Sciences, regarding specimens and a visit to the Buffalo Museum by Lesquereux. Though the existing correspondence only provides Lesquereux's letters, he refers to Blytt as "a good Norwegian Botanist I do not know his address in any other way than as you write it. Christiania Norway."[8]
