Passing of Dr Lau

[Chris43]

I just picked up from Cacti_etc that Dr Alfred Lau died on 27th February. I believe he had been forced to leave Mexico, somewhat under a cloud, so don't know where he was when he died. I can't find any details via Google, if anyone knows more, it'd be nice to hear.

I heard him talk maybe 10 years or so ago, having known of him through the many discoveries he had made of cacti and succulents. He was an authoritative figure, and was thoroughly entertaining.

I always felt that his rather more conservative approach to naming contrasted well with others of that time. Though his influence on our hobby hasn't really been felt for a while now, when I look at my pants and see Copiapoa lauii, and Mammillaria lauii, and...I could well go on.

[Trevor]

I was trying to get confirmation of this last night also, but without luck.

He certainly was one of the "big" names in Cacti and Succulents, and from what I gather by my searchs, Orchids as well. I'm sure he'll be missed and I'm guessing most of us will have some part of his legacy in our greenhouses.

[Tina]

Yes a shame and seems odd that it hasn't been mentioned elsewhere ?.

Chris you have funny labels in your PANTS, mine say ASDA

[Vic]

Thanks for informing us Chris - he certainly was a big name in the c&s world and many discoveries to his name. I've got a few plants/habitat propagations collected by himself.

Don't want to cause a controversy - but maybe the reason it hasn't been reported elsewhere is because of his dubious past.

[Guest]

I met him in the 1970's and he was a very pleasant and knowledgable person, he actually gave me a rooted offset from M. carmenae which he had discovered not long before and at the time was just unobtainable.
I was amazed to hear some time later about the charges raised against him.

[Chris43]

I gather from Herve that he was in Belize after leaving Mexico. But he has no more details.
And Tina, I'm a strictly M&S boy!

[Nick]

Tantalising comments up above - Google revealed nothing!

Oh well, as to things botanical, I looked in my pants (sorry Chris!>:D<) and guess what i found:

Eriosyce lauii, Copiapoa lauii, Turbinicarpus lauii, Coryphantha lauii, Mamm lauii dasyacantha.

Can anyone tell us how many plants were actually named after him?

and the bonus question..............

Who has had the most cacti named after him/her (species names rather than size of genus;))

Nick

[David_L]

Nick

If you ever have a spare Eriosyce lauii just drop me a line!

[Vic]

Couple more:

Echinocereus lauii
Echeveria lauii
Parodia lauii
Mammillaria lauii v. subducta

[Colin Walker]

[size=medium]Hi NIck,

Your question as to who has the most cacti named after him/her is interesting. I don't have the answer but lots have been named for Friedrich Ritter, including the genus Ritterocereus, so he must be very high up the list, if not at THE top.[/size]