# Józef Paczoski

Józef Konrad Paczoski (Polish pronunciation:; 8 December 1864 – 14 February 1942), was a distinguished Polish botanist whose significant contributions to the field have left a lasting impact on botanical studies. Born on 8th December 1864, he held the esteemed position of Professor at Poznań University and was recognized as a corresponding member of the prestigious Polish Academy of Learning. A pioneer in his field, Paczoski is credited with coining the term "phytosociology" and played a vital role in establishing and shaping this specialized branch of botany. Beyond his revolutionary work in phytosociology, he gained acclaim for his extensive research on the diverse flora present within the renowned Białowieża Forest. Paczoski's dedication to botanical exploration and his groundbreaking discoveries have solidified his legacy as a trailblazer in the realm of botany, inspiring future generations of researchers and scientists in the field.

## Life and career

Paczoski was born on 8 December 1864 in Byalohorodka near Iziaslav, Ukraine in Volhynia. From 1877 he studied botany at faculty of Biological Science at Jagiellonian University and Kiev University under the guidance of Ivan Ivanovich Schmalhausen. In 1894, he issued the exsiccata Zielnik flory Polskiej.
He was an early pioneer of the science of phytosociology, the study of natural plant communities. In 1896 he coined the term "phytosociology". In 1923 he became a scientific manager of the forest reserves in the Białowieża Forest. He did much of his research on the vegetation of the Białowieża National Park. From 1925 to 1931 he was Professor of Plant Systematics and Sociology at Poznań University, where he established the first Institute of Plant Sociology in the world.
He was a member of the Polish Academy of Learning (Polska Akademia Umiejętności), the predecessor of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

## Death

He died on 14 February 1942 in Sierosław near Poznań, Poland of a heart attack, when he heard that his grandson had been beaten up by the Gestapo as Poland was occupied at that time by Nazi Germany.

## Plant species named after Jozef Paczoski

* Allium paczoskianum
* Centaurea paczoskyi
* Hieracium paczoskianum
* Jurinea paczoskiana
* Pyrethrum paczoskii
* Tanacetum paczoskii
* Carex paczoskii
* Lamium paczoskianum
* Chamaecytisus paczoskii (Krecz.)
* Cytisus paczoskii
* Onobrychis paczoskiana
* Gagea paczoskii (Zapal.)
* Corydalis paczoskii
* Papaver paczoskii
* Pistolochia paczoskii
* Veronica paczoskiana

## Publications

* Paczoski J. 1927. Ranunculaceae. In: Szafer W (ed.) Flora polska : Rośliny naczyniowe Polski i ziem ościennych (Polish: Flora of Poland: Vascular plants of Poland and adjacent territories). Vol. III. Kraków: Polska Akademja Umiejętności
* Paczoski J. 1928. La végétation de la Foret de Białowieża (French: The Vegetation of Białowieża Forest). Varsovie.
* Paczoski J. 1928. Biologiczna struktura lasu (Polish : The Biological Structure of Forest). Sylwan 3: 193 - 221.
* Paczoski J. 1929. Die Wälder Bosniens (German: The Forests of Bosnia). Lwów: Polskie Towarzystwo Leśne.
* Paczoski J. 1930. Lasy Białowieży (Polish: The Forests of Białowieża). Monografje Naukowe 1. Warszawa: Państwowa Rada Ochrony Przyrody.
* Paczoski J. 1933. Podstawowe zagadnienia geografji roślin (Polish: Basic concepts in plant geography). Biblioteka Botaniczna. Vol. III. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Polskiego Towarzystwa Botanicznego.
* Paczoski J. 1935. Piętrowość lasu (Polish: Layers of forest vegetation). Biblioteka Botaniczna. Vol. IV. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Polskiego Towarzystwa Botanicznego.