Leopold Loeske
Leopold Loeske was a German watchmaker and amateur bryologist.
A skilled watchmaker, he was self-taught as a bryologist, collecting moss specimens in Germany, Switzerland and the French Alps during his career. Following World War I, he spent eight years working as a correspondent for a commercial institution due to financial struggles. He joined the British Bryological Society in 1934.
He died at Bad Harzburg while on a collection excursion in the Harz Mountains.
The moss genera Loeskeobryum and Loeskypnum are both named in his honor.
Published works
He was the author of 70 published works, including a highly regarded monograph on European Grimmiaceae, "Monographie der europäischen Grimmiaceen". Other books by Loeske include:- Moosflora des Harzes, 1903 - Mosses of the Harz.
- Studien zur vergleichenden morphologie und phylogonetischen systematik der laubmoose. 1910 - Studies involving comparative morphology and phylogenetic systematics of mosses.
- Die Laubmoose Europas. I, Grimmiaceae, 1913 - Mosses of Europe, Grimmiaceae.
- Die Laubmoose Europas. II, Funariaceae, 1914 - Mosses of Europe, Funariaceae.