Mutual love of plants translates across continents

Professor Hu Xiaojiang recalls the unique ties between her grandfather, botanist Hu Hsen-Hsu, at the gardens in Birr Castle

Hu Xiajing and Lord Rosse (Brendan Parson) pictured in 2016 at Birr Castle.  Photos: Redmond Photography, Roscrea

Hu Hsen-Hsu, better known as H. H. Hu in the field of botany, is the founder of modern plant taxonomy in China. Contributing greatly to the establishment of modern botany in China, Hu founded the first biological research institute in China, the first biology department in China’s national universities, the famous Fan Memorial Institute of Biology, in which he served as long term director, and established the Lushan Botanical Garden and the Yunnan Botanical Institute.

A native of Jiangxi province, Hu received a classical education in China before earning a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1916, as well as a doctoral degree of applied biology from Harvard University in 1925. He made a distinguished scientific career in botany, described many new taxa, most importantly by the discovery of the living fossil Metasequoia.