José Cuatrecasas


José Cuatrecasas was a Spanish botanist. He was born on March 19, 1903, in Camprodon, Catalonia, Spain.
His research focused on the high-elevation páramo and sub-páramo regions of the Andes Mountains in South America, especially the flowering plant families Asteraceae and Malpighiaceae. He played an important role in the founding of the Organization for [Flora Neotropica].
In 1997, the Smithsonian Institution established the José Cuatrecasas Botanical Fund to "support significant research projects that emulate the spirit of the research of José Cuatrecasas". The Smithsonian also awards a Cuatrecasas [Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany|José Cuatrecasas Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany] annually.

Honors

Multiple plant species have been named for him, including Narcissus cuatrecasasii , Joseanthus cuatrecasasii, Pradosia cuatrecasasii, and Tessmannianthus quadridomius.