Educando homens para educar plantas: orquidofilia e ciência no Brasil (1937-1949)

Abstract

The research analyzes the relationships between amateurs and experts who have dedicated themselves to the study of orchidaceae in Brazil from 1937 to 1949. The first event to track corresponds to the establishment of Orchidophiles Brazilian Society in 1937. As for 1949, corresponds to the publication of the work of Iconografia de Orchidaceas do Brasil, work aimed at the general reading public by the botanist Frederico Carlos Hoehne (1882-1959) that became a reference for orchidophiles at the time. The interest in orchids directly involved two "social worlds", that is, the amateurs world and the professionals world. This bond required the creation of mechanisms to organize and maintain a dialogue, especially works of scientific popularization. We address the conditions that gave bigger evidence to the collecting of orchids. Thus, we take into account: the scientific practices, the exchange of species between countries, the market, and the collectors gathered in associations.