Auguste Taton
Encyclopedia
Auguste Simon Taton is a Belgian
botanist who worked primarily in the Belgian Congo
in Africa
(now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo
).
, now a part of Seraing
, Belgium. Taton graduated from the in 1937 with a degree in agronomy
and served in the military from 25 August 1937 to 25 February 1939. From 1941 to 1945 he servied as an associate with the (Institute of National Parks of the Belgian Congo), identifying herbarium
specimens collected in Albert National Park, now known as Virunga National Park
. In November 1945 he became the assistant to the Division of Botany at the INEAC . In 1952, he continued his studies in the United States
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and the University of Massachusetts Amherst
, taking courses in agrostology
(study of grass
es).
From September 1956 to February 1961, Taton was the head of the INEAC station in Kivu
. During his time in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he collected 1624 herbarium specimens, which he deposited at the botanical garden in Brussels
and Yangambi
. Beginning in July 1961 Taton worked on the flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
, and Burundi
at the Belgian Institute for the encouragement of scientific research overseas and then at the Belgian Ministry of Education and Culture.
From April 1963 to June 1966 Taton was used by the Food and Agriculture Organization
as a representative in Kivu and Kinshasa
and then later placed on an agrostology mission in Morocco
. While in Morocco, he collected nearly 450 herbarium specimens, of which only 51 reached the National Botanic Garden of Belgium
, the rest being lost in transit. He then continued to work on his treatment of the flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, which eventually became his 1972 Flora of Central Africa . In July 1971, he was promoted to chief of the section at the Department, focusing on the herbarium collections of tropical Africa.
Taton retired on 1 February 1979, though he continued to collaborate on studies on the flora of Central Africa until his death on 27 October 1989 in his home in Wezembeek-Oppem
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
botanist who worked primarily in the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
(now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
).
Biography
He was born in Jemeppe-sur-MeuseJemeppe-sur-Meuse
Jemeppe-sur-Meuse is a section of the Belgian city of Seraing located in Wallonia, in the province of Liege. It was a separate municipality before the merging of municipalities in 1977. The inhabitants are about 10,000 and are called 'Jemeppians'.This town is best known for its steel industry, and...
, now a part of Seraing
Seraing
Seraing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. The municipality of Seraing includes the old communes of Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, and Ougrée. With Liège, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, Ans, and Flémalle it forms the greater Liège agglomeration...
, Belgium. Taton graduated from the in 1937 with a degree in agronomy
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...
and served in the military from 25 August 1937 to 25 February 1939. From 1941 to 1945 he servied as an associate with the (Institute of National Parks of the Belgian Congo), identifying herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
specimens collected in Albert National Park, now known as Virunga National Park
Virunga National Park
The Virunga National Park , formerly named Albert National Park, is a 7800 square km National Park that stretches from the Virunga Mountains in the South, to the Rwenzori Mountains in the North, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori...
. In November 1945 he became the assistant to the Division of Botany at the INEAC . In 1952, he continued his studies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
, taking courses in agrostology
Agrostology
Agrostology , sometimes graminology, is the scientific study of grasses. It typically encompasses the true grasses , as well as the more grasslike species of the sedge family , the rush family , and the bulrush or cattail family Typhaceae...
(study of grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es).
From September 1956 to February 1961, Taton was the head of the INEAC station in Kivu
Kivu
Kivu was the name for a large "Region" in the Democratic Republic of Congo under the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko that bordered Lake Kivu. It included three "Sub-Regions" : Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu and Maniema, corresponding to the three current provinces created in 1986...
. During his time in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he collected 1624 herbarium specimens, which he deposited at the botanical garden in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and Yangambi
Yangambi
Yangambi is a city in the Isangi territory of Tshopo District, Democratic Republic of the Congo.-Location:Yangambi is on the north side of the Congo River and lies on the R408 road which connects it to Kisangani to the east....
. Beginning in July 1961 Taton worked on the flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, and Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
at the Belgian Institute for the encouragement of scientific research overseas and then at the Belgian Ministry of Education and Culture.
From April 1963 to June 1966 Taton was used by the Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
as a representative in Kivu and Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
and then later placed on an agrostology mission in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. While in Morocco, he collected nearly 450 herbarium specimens, of which only 51 reached the National Botanic Garden of Belgium
National Botanic Garden of Belgium
The National Botanic Garden of Belgium is located in the grounds of Bouchout Castle near the village of Meise, just north of Brussels. It is one of the largest botanical gardens in the world with an extensive collection of living plants in addition to a herbarium of over 3 million specimens...
, the rest being lost in transit. He then continued to work on his treatment of the flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, which eventually became his 1972 Flora of Central Africa . In July 1971, he was promoted to chief of the section at the Department, focusing on the herbarium collections of tropical Africa.
Taton retired on 1 February 1979, though he continued to collaborate on studies on the flora of Central Africa until his death on 27 October 1989 in his home in Wezembeek-Oppem
Wezembeek-Oppem
Wezembeek-Oppem is a municipality in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, ten kilometres east of the centre of Brussels. The municipality only comprises the town of Wezembeek-Oppem proper. On January 1, 2006 Wezembeek-Oppem had a total population of 13,504...
.
Personal
Taton was married in 1944 and had three children. At the time of his death, he had nine grandchildren.Awards
- 1955: Gold Medal, Royal Order of the LionRoyal Order of the Lion (Belgium)The Royal Order of the Lion was established by King Leopold II of Belgium on 9 April 1891, in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State, and was awarded for services to Congo and its ruler that did not deserve the award of the Order of the African Star and were not necessarily performed from...
- 1982: Prix E. Laurent award of the Royal Academy of Belgium