Johannes Leendert van Soest explained

Johannes Leendert van Soest (13 October 1898, the Hague –30 October 1983, Wassenaar) was a Dutch engineer and botanist renowned for his taraxacological work.^{[1] [2]}

Biography

J.L. van Soest graduated from the Technical College in Delft (now Delft University of Technology) in 1925. In 1949 he was appointed as a professor there. From 1948 to 1963 he was the director of a physics laboratory.^[3] He retired in 1964.

In his spare time and after retirement he worked on botanical subjects, especially the genus Taraxacum (dandelions).^[4] He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Utrecht for his botanical achievements.^[5]

He was an officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau.^[6]

Scientific work

Van Soest was an internationally recognised authority in the genus Taraxacum.^[7] He described several hundred new species of dandelions.^[8] His herbarium (about 50,000 sheets) was donated to the Rijksherbarium at Leiden.

Notes and References

1. Verschoof . B. J. M. . 1978-01-01 . Professor Dr. Ir. J.L. van Soest tachtig jaar . Gorteria Dutch Botanical Archives . en . 9 . 5 . 118–120 . 0017-2294.
2. Mennema . J. . 1984-01-01 . In Memoriam prof. dr. ir. J.L. van Soest . Gorteria Dutch Botanical Archives . en . 12 . 1 . 3–5 . 0017-2294.
3. Web site: Johannes Leendert van Soest . 2023-10-31 . Flevolands geheugen . nl.
4. Web site: Historie . 2023-10-31 . www.taraxacumnederland.nl . nl.
5. Verschoof . B. J. M. . 1978-01-01 . Professor Dr. Ir. J.L. van Soest tachtig jaar . Gorteria Dutch Botanical Archives . en . 9 . 5 . 118–120 . 0017-2294.
6. Web site: Genealogie . Coret . Decoration Johannes Leendert van Soest (in the year 1815-1993) . 2023-10-31 . Open Archives . en.
7. Mennema . J. . 1984-01-01 . In Memoriam prof. dr. ir. J.L. van Soest . Gorteria Dutch Botanical Archives . en . 12 . 1 . 3–5 . 0017-2294.
8. Web site: Soest, Johannes Leendert van International Plant Names Index . 2023-10-31 . www.ipni.org.