Curt Backeberg
Curt Backeberg (2 August 1894 in Lüneburg, Germany – 14 January 1966) was a German horticulturist especially known for the collection and classification of cacti.
Also recorded as Backeb. · C. Backeberg · Backeberg
Curt Backeberg
- Name
- Curt Backeberg
- Born
- 1 August 1894
- Birthplace
- Lüneburg, Germany
- Died
- 14 January 1966
- Known for
- Classification of cacti
- Nationality
- Germany
- Occupation
- botanist · botanical collector · writer · director
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Curt Backeberg • Born — 1 August 1894 • Birthplace — Lüneburg, Germany • Died — 14 January 1966 • Fields — Horticulture, botany • Known for — Classification of cacti • Author Abbrev Bot — Backeb.
Biography
Biography
He travelled extensively through Central and South America, and published a number of books on cacti, including the six-volume, 4,000-page Die Cactaceae, 1958–1962, and the Kakteenlexikon, first appearing in 1966 and updated posthumously. Although he collected and described many new species and defined a number of new genera, much of his work was based on faulty assumptions about the evolution of cacti and was too focused on geographic distribution; many of his genera have since been reorganized or abandoned. The botanist David Hunt is quoted as saying that he "left a trail of nomenclatural chaos that will probably vex cactus taxonomists for centuries." Nevertheless, his observations regarding the subtle variations among cacti have proven useful for hobbyists, who continue to use many cactus names proposed or upheld in his works. In 1954, the Mexican botanist Helia Bravo Hollis described a new genus, and named it Backebergia in honor of Curt Backeberg. Curt Backeberg was struck by a heart attack and died on 14 January 1966.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1894
Curt Backeberg born at Lüneburg.
1966
Curt Backeberg died at Hamburg.
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Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Curt Backeberg, revision 1363350937 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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