Hipólito Ruiz López (August 8, 1754 in

Belorado Belorado is a village and municipality in Spain, belonging to the Province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. It has a population of approximately 2,100 inhabitants. It is also known for being a city in the Way of Saint Ja ...

, Burgos, Spain – 1816 in Madrid), or Hipólito Ruiz, was a Spanish botanist known for researching the floras of Peru and Chile during an expedition under Carlos III from 1777 to 1788. During the reign of Carlos III, three major botanical expeditions were sent to the New World; Ruiz and

José Antonio Pavón Jiménez José Antonio Pavón Jiménez or José Antonio Pavón (April 22, 1754 in Casatejada, Cáceres, Spain – 1840 in Madrid) was a Spanish botanist known for researching the flora of Peru and Chile. During the reign of Charles III of Spain, thre ...

were the botanists for the first of these expeditions, to Peru and Chile.

Background

After studying Latin with an uncle who was a priest, at the age of 14 Ruiz López went to Madrid to study logic, physics, chemistry and pharmacology. He also studied botany at the Migas Calientes Botanical Gardens (now the Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid), under the supervision of Casimiro Gómez Ortega (1741–1818) and

Antonio Palau Verdera Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 40 ...

(1734–1793). Ruiz had not yet completed his pharmacology studies when he was named the head botanist of the expedition. The French physician Joseph Dombey was named as his assistant, and the pharmacologist José Antonio Pavón y Jimenez was also appointed. Completing the expedition were the botanical illustrators Joseph Bonete and

Isidro Gálvez Isidro is a given name. Notable people with the name include: Saints *Saint Isidore the Laborer (c. 1070 – died 1130), the patron saint of farmers of Madrid (Spain) and La Ceiba (Honduras) *Saint Isidore of Seville (c. 560 – died 636), schola ...

The expedition

The expedition sailed from Cádiz in 1777, arriving at Lima in April 1778. They explored throughout Peru and Chile for ten years (1778–1788), collecting specimens. The expedition collected 3,000 specimens of plants and made 2,500 life-sized botanical illustrations. When they returned to Spain they brought back a great many living plants. One of the medical remedies brought back by this expedition was the boiled spouts of the quisoar plant, '' Buddleja incana'', which was used to cure colds or, mixed with urine, to alleviate toothache. The collections arrived in Cádiz in good order (for the most part) in 1788, and were deposited in the Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid and in the Gabinete de Historia Natural, the precursor of the Museum of Natural History. The discoveries included about 150 new genera and 500 new species, which still retain the names given them by Ruiz and Pavón. Unfortunately, a part of the collection consisting of 53 crates with 800 illustrations, dried plants, seeds, resins and minerals was lost when the ship transporting it was wrecked on the coast of Portugal. Back in Spain, Ruiz finished his pharmacological studies, graduating in 1790. He was named a member of the

Royal Academy of Medicine Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

in 1794, and he published various works in that body's ''Memoires''. He and Pavón published ''Flora Peruviana et Chilensis'' in ten volumes, richly illustrated with engravings of the specimens. The first four volumes were published between 1798 and 1802. The last six volumes were published after the death of Ruiz. Before his death, Ruiz also published ''Quinología o tratado del árbol de la quina'' (Madrid, 1792). This work was soon translated into Italian (1792), German (1794) and English (1800). Alexander von Humboldt cited Ruiz when he published his own treatise on cinchona in 1821. The journals Ruiz produced for his exploration of South America during these years are remarkable for their breadth of ethnobotanical and natural history knowledge. Of particular interest to the Spanish Crown at the time was pharmacological knowledge of New World plants such as ''

Chinchona ''Cinchona'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae containing at least 23 species of trees and shrubs. All are native to the tropical Andean forests of western South America. A few species are reportedly natu ...

'', the source of the anti-malarial, quinine. In addition to detailed descriptions and paintings of the flora and fauna of Peru and Chile, Ruiz observed the geology and weather of the area, and included cultural information about the life of the Indians and the colonists of the area. He died in 1816 (some sources say 1815) in Madrid.

Genera

Genera of plants initially named by Ruiz y Pavón, or containing species named by them, include the following: * ''

Clarisia ''Clarisia'' is a genus of trees in the family Moraceae, native to North and South America (from Mexico to Bolivia). Taxonomy The genus ''Clarisia'' contains the following species: * '' Clarisia biflora'' Ruiz & Pav. * '' Clarisia ilicifolia'' ...

'' (1794) * '' Lapageria'' (1802) * '' Amaryllis'' (1802) * '' Cordia'' (1794) * '' Baccharis'' (1794) * ''

Brunellia ''Brunellia'' is a genus of trees. They are distributed in the mountainous regions of southern Mexico, Central America, West Indies, and South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the S ...

'' (1794) * '' Fabiana'' (1794) * ''

Puya Puya may refer to: * ''Puya'' (plant), in the family Bromeliaceae * Puya (river), in Russia * Puya, a variety of Guajillo chili * ''Puya'' (Meitei texts), traditional or mythological texts of the Meetei people * ''Culoepuya'' or ''Culo'e Puya'', V ...

'' (1794) * '' Stipa'' (1794) * ''

Calandrinia ''Calandrinia'' is a large genus of flowering plants known as purslanes and redmaids. It includes over 100 species of annual and perennial herbs which bear colorful flowers in shades of red to purple and white. Plants of this genus are native to ...

'' (1794) * '' Vestia'' (1794) * '' Crassula'' (1794) * ''

Krameria ''Krameria'' is the only genus in the Krameriaceae family, of which any of the approximately 18 species are commonly known as rhatany, ratany or rattany. Rhatany is also the name given to krameria root, a botanical remedy consisting of the dried ...

'' (1794) * ''

Datura ''Datura'' is a genus of nine species of highly poisonous, vespertine-flowering plants belonging to the nightshade family Solanaceae. They are commonly known as thornapples or jimsonweeds, but are also known as devil's trumpets (not to be conf ...

'' (1794) * ''

Clethra ''Clethra'' is a genus of flowering shrubs or small trees described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753.Graffenrieda ''Graffenrieda'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae. There are about 44 species. Most occur in South America. A few are distributed in Mexico,Almeda, F., M. Alvear, and H. Mendoza. (2014)Two new species of ''Graffenrieda ...

'' (1794) * ''

Escallonia ''Escallonia'' is a genus of shrubs and trees in the family Escalloniaceae. They are native to North and South America. Taxonomy Currently valid species in ''Escallonia'' are: * '' Escallonia alpina'' * '' Escallonia angustifolia'' * '' Escal ...

'' (1794) * ''

Miconia ''Miconia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the glory bush family, Melastomataceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Americas. The species are mostly shrubs and small to medium-sized trees up to 15 m tall. The generic name ...

'' (1794) * '' Cyperus'' (1794) * '' Piper'' (1794) * ''

Wigandia ''Wigandia'' is a genus of flowering plants within the waterleaf subfamily, Hydrophylloideae. They are found mainly in Central America and South America, though one or two species are found as far north as the United States. Some are grown as o ...

'' (1794) * '' Nama'' (1794) * ''

Jaltomata ''Jaltomata'' is a genus of plants in the family Solanaceae. According to molecular phylogenies, ''Jaltomata'' is the sister genus to ''Solanum ''Solanum'' is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, which include three food crops o ...

'' (1794) * '' Jarava'' (1794) * ''

Heteranthera ''Heteranthera'' is a genus of aquatic plants in the water hyacinth family, Pontederiaceae, known generally as mud plantains. Species of this genus are native to tropical and subtropical America and Africa. They live in the water or in wet soil ...

'' (1794) * ''

Collomia ''Collomia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Polemoniaceae The Polemoniaceae (Jacob's-ladder or phlox family) are a family of flowering plants consisting of about 25 genera with 270–400 species of annuals and perennials native ...

'' (1794) * '' Acaena'' (1794) * ''

Verbena ''Verbena'' (), also known as vervain or verveine, is a genus in the family Verbenaceae. It contains about 150 species of annual and perennial herbaceous or semi-woody flowering plants. The majority of the species are native to the Americas a ...

'' (1794) * ''

Cinchona ''Cinchona'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae containing at least 23 species of trees and shrubs. All are native to the Tropical Andes, tropical Andean forests of western South America. A few species are ...

'' (1794) * ''

Triglochin ''Triglochin'' is a plant genus in the family Juncaginaceae described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is very nearly cosmopolitan in distribution, with species on every continent except Antarctica. North America has four accepted species, two of whi ...

'' (1794) * ''

Fortunatia ''Oziroe'' is a genus of bulbous South American plants in the Scilloideae, squill subfamily within the Asparagaceae, asparagus family.Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards),Asparagales: Scilloideae, ''Angiosperm Phylogeny Website'', retrieved 2014-02-25 W ...

'' (1794) * '' Lardizabala'' (1794) * '' Myrospermum'' (1794) * '' Alstromeria'' (1794) * ''

Montiopsis ''Montiopsis'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Montiaceae. Its native range is Peru to southern South America. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. The genus name of ''Montiopsis'' is in honour of Giuseppe ...

'' (1794) * '' Renealmia'' (1794) * ''

Tessaria ''Tessaria'' is a genus of South American plants in the tribe Inuleae within the family Asteraceae.Ruiz López, Hipólito & Pavón, José Antonio. 1794. Florae Peruvianae, et Chilensis Prodromus 112, t. 24, center ; Species

'' (1794) * '' Ipomoea'' (1794) * ''

Xyris ''Xyris'' is a genus of flowering plants, the yelloweyed grasses, in the yellow-eyed-grass family. The genus counts over 250 species, widespread over much of the world, with the center of distribution in the Guianas. The leaves are mostly dis ...

'' (1794) * ''

Aloysia ''Aloysia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are known generally as beebrushes.

'' (1794) * '' Tillandsia'' (1794) * ''

Spermacoce ''Spermacoce'' or false buttonweed is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It comprises about 275 species found throughout the tropics and subtropics. Its highest diversity is found in the Americas, followed by Africa, Australia a ...

'' (1794) * ''

Sphaeradenia ''Sphaeradenia'' is a genus of plant in family Cyclanthaceae, first described as a genus in 1954. It is native to Central America and South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the South ...

'' (1794) * ''

Salpiglossis ''Salpiglossis'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the subfamily Cestroideae of family Solanaceae. It is closely related to the genus ''Reyesia'', with which it makes up the tribe Salpiglossideae. Species in the genus ''Salpiglossis'' ...

'' (1794) * ''

Schizanthus ''Schizanthus'' , also called butterfly flower, fringeflower, poor-man's-orchid, is a genus of plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. They are annual or biennial herbaceous plants, with attractive flowers and they belong to the subfamily ...

'' (1794) * '' Pouteria'' (1794) * '' Fuchsia'' (1794) * ''

Polylepis ''Polylepis'' is a genus comprising 28 recognised shrub and tree species, that are endemic to the mid- and high-elevation regions of the tropical Andes. This group is unique in the rose family in that it is predominantly wind-pollinated. They are ...

'' (1794) * '' Leonia'' (1794) * '' Psammisia'' (1794) * '' Thibaudia'' (1794) * '' Acunna'' (1794) * '' Richardella'' (1794) * ''

Iriartea ''Iriartea'' is a genus in the palm family Arecaceae, native to Central and South America. The best-known species – and probably the only one – is ''Iriartea deltoidea'', which is found from Nicaragua, south into Bolivia and a grea ...

'' (1794) * '' Phytelephas'' (1794) * '' Capsicum'' (1794) * '' Chondodendron'' (1794) * '' Tropaeolum'' (1794) * ''

Sessea ''Sessea'' is a genus of 19 accepted species of shrubs, small trees and climbers belonging to the subfamily Cestroideae of the plant family Solanaceae. The flowers of ''Sessea'' are so similar to those of ''Cestrum'' that the genera cannot usual ...

'' (1794) * ''

Geophila ''Geophila'' is a genus of Herbaceous plant, herbs in the Family (biology), family Rubiaceae. This genus is pantropical, as it is found in most Tropics, tropical regions. The name ''Geophila'' was once applied to a genus of mushrooms (defined b ...

'' (1794) * '' Psychotria'' (1794) * '' Canna'' (1794)

Orchids

* ''

Gongora ''Gongora'', abbreviated Gga in horticultural trade, is a member of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). It consists of 65 species known from Central America, Trinidad, and tropical South America, with most species found in Colombia. They grow acro ...

'' (1794) * ''

Sobralia ''Sobralia'' is a genus of orchids native to Mexico, Central and South America. The plants are more commonly terrestrial, but are also found growing epiphytically, in wet forests from sea level to about 8,800 ft. The genus was named for D ...

'' (1798) * '' Lycaste'' (1798) * '' Epidendrum'' (1794) * ''

Bletia ''Bletia'' is a genus of about 30 species of orchids (family Orchidaceae), almost all of which are terrestrial; some are occasionally lithophytic or epiphytic. It is named after Spanish botanist and pharmacist Don Luis Blet. The genus is wides ...

'' (1794) * '' Masdevallia'' (1794) * '' Maxillaria'' (1794) * ''

Anguloa ''Anguloa'', commonly known as tulip orchids, is a small orchid genus closely related to ''Lycaste''. Its abbreviation in horticulture is Ang. This genus was described by José Antonio Pavón and Hipólito Ruiz López in 1798. They named it in ho ...

'' (1794) * '' Cattleya'' (1794) * ''

Fernandezia ''Fernandezia'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It contains about 30-40 species, native to northern South America, Central America, and southern Mexico.Dressler, R.L. 2003. Orchidaceae. En: Manual de Plantas de ...

'' (1794) * '' Rodriguezia'' (1794)

Other expeditions

The four expeditions authorized by King Carlos III to the Spanish colonies were those of Ruiz and Pavón to Peru and Chile (1777–88); José Celestino Mutis to

New Granada New Granada may refer to various former national denominations for the present-day country of Colombia. *New Kingdom of Granada, from 1538 to 1717 *Viceroyalty of New Granada, from 1717 to 1810, re-established from 1816 to 1819 *United Provinces of ...

(1783–1808);

Juan de Cuéllar Juan José Ruperto de Cuéllar y Villanueba (ca. 1739, probably Real Sitio de Aranjuez, Spain – 1801, Ilocos, Philippines) was a Spanish pharmacology, pharmacologist and botany, botanist. From 1786 to 1797 he was the leader of a royal bo ...

to the Philippines (1786–97); and Martín Sessé y Lacasta to

New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( es, Virreinato de Nueva España, ), or Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain during the Spanish colonization of the Am ...

(1787–1803). He has been honoured in the naming of 2 plant genera, in 1786, botanist Cav. published ''

Ruizia ''Ruizia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Malvaceae, containing the single species ''Ruizia cordata''. Its native range is Réunion."''Ruizia'' Can." Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 19 August 202 ...

'', a genus of flowering plants from the island of

Réunion Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...

, belonging to the family Malvaceae. Then in 1936,

R.E.Fr. (Klas) Robert Elias Fries (11 July 1876, Uppsala – 29 January 1966, Stockholm), the youngest son of Theodor Magnus Fries (1832–1913) and grandson of Elias Magnus Fries(1794–1878) and an expert on mushrooms. A Swedish botanist who was a ...

published ''

Ruizodendron ''Ruizodendron'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Annonaceae. It is part of Malmeoideae subfamily and ''Malmeeae'' tribe. The only knowns species is ''Ruizodendron ovale''. Its native range is western South Americ ...

'', a monotypic genus of flowering plants from South America belonging to the family Annonaceae.

Notes

References

*''The Journals of Hipólito Ruiz: Spanish Botanist in Peru and Chile 1777-1788'', translated by Richard Evans Schultes and María José Nemry von Thenen de Jaramillo-Arango, Timber Press, 1998.

External links

Short biography

"Flora Peruviana et Chilensis" Vols. I-III available online at Botanicus.org website

"Systema vegetabilium florae peruvianae et chilensis" available online at Digital Library of Madrid Botanical Garden site

"Flora peruvianae, et chilensis prodromus" available online at Digital Library of Madrid Botanical Garden site

"Suplemento á la Quinologia" available online at Digital Library of Madrid Botanical Garden site

Hipólito Ruiz López. Polymath Virtual Library, Fundación Ignacio Larramendi
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruiz, Hipolito Lopez 18th-century Spanish botanists 1754 births 1816 deaths 19th-century Spanish botanists