On March 26, 1516, Swiss naturalist and bibliographer Conrad Gessner was born. His five-volume Historiae animalium (1551–1558) is considered the beginning of modern zoology, and the flowering plant genus Gesneria is named after him. He is considered as one of the most important natural scientists of Switzerland and was sometimes referred to as the 'German Pliny'.
M. Keil, U. Geßner, C. Hüttich, and R. Colditz. Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 2: Patterns and processes at regional scale, page 32 - 45. Göttingen & Windhoek, Klaus Hess Publishers, (2010)
M. Keil, U. Geßner, and C. Hüttich. Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 2: Patterns and processes at regional scale, page 29 - 31. Göttingen & Windhoek, Klaus Hess Publishers, (2010)
M. Keil, U. Geßner, and C. Hüttich. Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 2: Patterns and processes at regional scale, page 81 - 83. Göttingen & Windhoek, Klaus Hess Publishers, (2010)
M. Keil, U. Geßner, and C. Hüttich. Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 2: Patterns and processes at regional scale, page 145 - 148. Göttingen & Windhoek, Klaus Hess Publishers, (2010)