Death of Prof. Dr. Asuman Baytop 2015

[Maggi Young]

It was with sadness that we learned of the death of Prof. Dr. Asuman Baytop, the well-respected Turkish academic. Asuman Baytop was born in Istanbul in 1920 and passed away on 18th February 2015.  Asuman had a long and productive career in science: her first degree was in pharmacy and as time went on her interest came more to botany and pharmacy - " Farmakobotanik". She spent time in Switzerland  and her  contributions to science are as well known as those of her late husband Prof. Turhan Baytop, who died in 2002.  The Baytops are survived by their daughter Professor Feza (Baytop) Gunergun to whom we extend our condolences.

Both these fine scientists have been commemorated by a crocus named for them.  Turhan by Crocus baytopiorum and Asuman by Crocus asumaniae.

Brian Mathew has written an appreciation of Prof. Dr Asuman Baytop, which will soon be published in "Cornucopia" a Turkish-British magazine. The piece will be illustrated by  these photos from Jānis Rukšāns and Ian Young. 


Crocus asumaniae - photo J. Ian Young


Crocus baytopiorum - photo Jānis Rukšāns

[johnralphcarpenter]

Not only crocus - Colchicum too.

[Maggi Young]

Indeed, Ralph, the two Professors Baytop were much involved in plant hunting and descriptions of all sorts of plants and were honoured by the naming of various plants. 

Thier expeditions resulted in many records and accessions for various Botanical Gardens, as you might imagine :  this link shows their involvement in records at RBGE for Galanthus:
http://elmer.rbge.org.uk/bgbase/vherb/bgbasevherb.php?current__names_family=&current__names_genus=Galanthus&current__names_species=&coll__name=Baytop&coll_num=&specimens_barcode=&full__name=Turkey|Turkey&specimens_region=&cfg=bgbase%2Fvherb%2Fbgbasevherb.cfg

 and this for Colchicum : http://elmer.rbge.org.uk/bgbase/vherb/bgbasevherb.php?current__names_family=&current__names_genus=Galanthus&current__names_species=&coll__name=Baytop&coll_num=&specimens_barcode=&full__name=&specimens_region=&cfg=bgbase%2Fvherb%2Fbgbasevherb.cfg