Júlio Augusto Henriques was a Portugese botanist and professor at the University of Coimbra. He developed the Herbarium of the Univeristy and Coimbra Botanical Garden. He also founded the 'Society Broterian', which brought together various scientists botanists, geologists and naturalists. He was a large admirer of the work of Charles Dickens. He also wrote many articals about the flora of Portugal.

Biography

Henriques was born on 15 January 1838, in the parish of Arco de Baúlhe.^[1]

In 1853, he married 'Zulmira Angelina de Magalhães Lima'^[2]

He went to school in the city of Braga. In 1854, he trained to become a lawyer at College of Sao Bento in Coimbra, (following his fathers wishes). He completed his law course in 1859, but then enrolled on a second college course in Philosophy at the University of Coimbra.^[1]

After gaining a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, he went on to obtain a PhD doctorate. His final thesis in 1865, was entitled 'As especies sao mudaveis? (translated as 'Are species modifiable?) was a defence of Charles Darwin's theory.^[3]

(still working on) he applied for the position of tutor in the Philosophy Faculty of the same university in 1866. Between 1866 and 1873 he occupied the position of secretary of the faculty and in 1869 began to teach there as a substitute lecturer in botany, agriculture, zoology, chemistry and mineralogy. Despite the scarcity of resources available to him and the relatively unpopular nature of the subject in Portugal at the time, Henriques was always most interested in the plant sciences and in 1873 he was named lecturer and head of botany, agriculture and the botanic garden. In this role he set about reforming the department as funds became available in this area for the first time and used model institutions in Europe as his inspiration. Passionate about teaching he developed laboratory resources and fieldwork opportunities for his students and also separated out the botanical specimens and books in the museum of natural history to create a herbarium and library. Acquiring the vast herbarium of the German collector Heinrich Willkomm, (a Portuguese flora enthusiast), Coimbra became a base for studying the country's plant life. He also revitalised the garden, improving both its facilities and its collaboration with foreign organisations making exchange of plants and seeds possible.^[1]

In 1876, he wrote 'O Jardim Botanico', published by University Press.^[4]

In 1880, he founded the 'Sociedade Broteriana',named after (the Portugese botanist and driector of Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra) Félix Avelar Brotero(1744–1828).^[1]

Henriques used this botanical society to gather together plant enthusiasts from around Portugal and publish their plant knowledge in the society's bulletin 'Boletim Sociedade Broteriana'.^[5] It was still in publication until 1975.^[6]

A keen plant collector himself, this promoter of Portuguese botany travelled all over the country in search of specimens to develop the university's herbarium. Identifying, classifying and studying his and Willkomm's specimens.

Henriques produced many publications on the fungi, lichens, algae and vascular plants (such as Amaryllidaceae, Poaceae and Plantaginaceae) of Portugal and produced a regional flora of the Baixo Mondego.

In 1882, Henriques published an article 'Carlos Darwin', which is devoted to (Charles Darwin) life and works.^[3]

In 1883, he published 'Expedicao scientifica a Serra da Estrella', in Seccao de botanica', based on a botanical exploration taken in 1881. It listed 716 plants (including 600 vascular species).^[7]

In 1886, he published 'Uma excursao botanico na Serra do Caramullo' in 'Bol. Soc Broteriana', various geological, topographical and flora observations from exporations taken in June 1884.^[7]

In 1889, he published Lecanora newtoniana (a species of Lichen) Ins. Guin.: 17 (1889).^{[8] [9]}

He collected specimens with fellow botanists, frenchman Jules Alexandre Daveau (during 1852-1929) and M. Ferreira. (during 1860-1920).^[1]

In 1901, he published 'De Macieira ate Castro Daire' in 'Bol. Soc Broteriana' various geological, topographical and flora details of various regions in articles.^[7]

Also interested in the flora of the Portuguese commonwealth in Africa, he collected in São Tomé and Príncipe as well, and is responsible for publishing the first flora of these islands. He was also interested in the development of agriculture on São Tomé and Príncipe and in Angola, publishing instructions on successful cultivation of certain crop species (particularly quinine for its protective qualities against malaria), and sending over thousands of species of potential agricultural interest. Henriques did not hold a large number of administrative positions, preferring instead to concentrate on his teaching and running the gardens.

In 1907 the University of Uppsala awarded him an honorary doctorate but, as a particularly humble man, he often refused other recognition's.^[1]

In 1915, he wrote a letter on 5 January from Jardim Botanico, Coimbra to Sir William Abbott Herdman, the letter is now stored by the Natural History Museum Archives in London.^[10]

In 1917, he wrote 'A Ilha de S. Tomé, sob o ponto de vista histórico-natural e agrícola'.^[11]

He also wrote 'Plantas Da Borracha E Da Gutta-Percha' (Portuguese Edition). It was re-published in paperback form on 27 January 2012 http://www.amazon.com/Plantas-Da-Borracha-Gutta-Percha-Portuguese/dp/1273550161/ref=la_B00IZX5G12_1_2/183-5276213-5832721?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412852646&sr=1-2

He is the botanical author of Iris boissieri.^[12]

After his death in 1928, several articles 'Flora vascular de Transcow' were published in 'Anais Fac. Cien Porto in 1936 by Goncalo Sampaio. This was a brief annotated list of 405 species of vascular plants collected by Henriques in July 1908.^[7]

In 1955, 'Portugaliae acta biologica: Sistemática, ecologia, biogeografia e paleontologia', Volumes 6-8 was also published.^[14]

Henriques, Julio Augusto (1838-1928) Standard Form: Henriq. Area of Interest: Pteridophytes , Mycology , Bryophytes , Algae , Spermatophytes Countries: Portugal ref http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idAuthorSearch.do;jsessionid=4D6916089F0EBC3A73C270494E8370DB?id=3846-1&back_page=