On October 10, 1846, in the village of Bivol — known today as Viișoara, in the former Dorohoi County — Dimitrie Brândză was born, one of the three sons of the cupbearer Gheorghe and Ruxanda Brândză. Nothing at that time hinted that this child, raised in a quiet corner of Moldavia, would become one of the most important Romanian scientists of the 19th century — a physician, university professor, botanist, and founder of the Bucharest Botanical Garden.

A Moldavian childhood and the beginnings of a scientific destiny

Curious and dedicated to learning, Dimitrie Brândză attended high school in Iași between 1857 and 1864, a period during which his passion for nature and science became increasingly evident. After graduation, he left for Paris to continue his studies, enrolling at the Sorbonne, where he attended courses in natural sciences from 1864 to 1866. At the same time, he began medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris, earning his doctorate in 1869.

His doctoral thesis, titled “Botanical and therapeutic history of the Gentianaceae used in medicine”, already reflected the direction his entire career would take — a bridge between medicine and botany, between the science of the human body and that of healing plants.

Professor, doctor, and devoted researcher

After returning to Romania, Dimitrie Brândză became deeply involved in developing education and scientific research. He worked as a doctor and hygiene professor at the “Socola” Seminary, taught natural sciences at the “National” High School in Iași, and held the position of professor of botany and zoology at the Faculty of Sciences in Iași between 1867 and 1874. At the same time, he practiced medicine at the “Sf. Spiridon” Hospital, one of the most important medical institutions of the time.

In 1874, he was appointed professor at the Chair of Botany and Zoology at the University of Bucharest, where he taught until 1895. Under his leadership, the botany department became an independent academic unit, which allowed for a more modern system of teaching and research. 

Dimitrie Brândză was also a prolific author, publishing three textbooks for secondary education: “Geology” (1872), “Zoology” (1872), and “Botany” (1873). These works helped shape generations of students and teachers, who discovered through them the rigor and beauty of the natural sciences.

Explorer of Romanian flora and pioneer of modern botany

Dimitrie Brândză dedicated much of his scientific activity to the study of Romanian flora, which he explored with remarkable passion and perseverance. In 1883, he published his most important work — “Prodromus of the Romanian Flora”, also known as “Enumeration of plants known so far in Moldavia and Wallachia”. 

In this monumental study, Brândză catalogued over 2,100 species of plants, 1,875 of which he personally collected or verified from herbarium samples. This foundational work established the basis of floristic research in Romania and remained, for decades, a reference for botanists.

He also contributed to the development of a coherent Romanian botanical terminology, replacing the Latin and French terms previously used. Moreover, he discovered and described several new plant species, such as Silene pontica, Centaurea jankae, and Paeonia romanica, consolidating Romania’s reputation in European botanical research.

Academic recognition and remarkable scientific contributions

Thanks to his achievements, on June 30, 1879, Dimitrie Brândză was elected a full member of the Romanian Academy. A year later, during the general session of April 11, 1880, he delivered his reception speech, “On the vegetation of Romania and its explorers”, a genuine plea for the scientific study of the country’s natural environment.

In 1884, he published the study “The Vegetation of Dobruja” in the Annals of the Romanian Academy, providing valuable data about the flora of a region recently incorporated into Romania. Between 1892 and 1895, he served as vice-president of the Romanian Academy, strengthening the ties between education, research, and the country’s scientific institutions.

The birth of the Bucharest Botanical Garden

Professor Brândză’s most renowned achievement remains the founding of the Bucharest Botanical Garden. In 1874, the Botanical Garden, which had previously operated on the grounds of the School of Medicine and Pharmacy, was relocated to the estate of Vasile Suțu, situated in front of the University of Bucharest. That same year, the institution was integrated into the University’s Faculty of Sciences, with Dr. Dimitrie Brândză appointed as its director.

At first, conditions were far from ideal. The garden was set up on a small, unsuitable piece of land, and the spaces for botanical collections and research were insufficient. Nevertheless, Brândză managed to secure a room within the University building for the library, his personal herbarium, and collections brought from Iași, to which were added the herbariums of Hoffmann and Dr. Carol Davila.

Dissatisfied with the poor conditions, Brândză began campaigning for a new, suitable site for a modern botanical garden. After years of effort, in 1884, his persistence paid off: by Decree No. 659 of February 28, the state granted both the land and funds necessary for establishing the new Botanical Garden, on the site where it still stands today, near Șoseaua Cotroceni.

Brândză personally supervised the entire project, drawing inspiration from European models. The first greenhouses were built following the example of those in Liège, and the Botanical Institute was erected to house the disciplines of Plant Biology, the Herbarium, and the Botanical Museum. During this period, the main plantations of trees and shrubs were also established — many of which continue to thrive today.

Scientific and educational legacy

Beyond his role as a researcher and professor, Brândză was also a prolific writer. Among his most important works are “Elementary Course in Natural History” (three volumes, 1873), “Fragments from the Flora of Romania” (1876), “Popular Names of Plants” (1876), “New Contributions to the Flora of Romania” (1889), “Flora of Dobruja” (published posthumously in 1898), and “New Plants from Romania” (published posthumously in 1903).

Through these writings, he established a scientific and linguistic foundation for Romanian botany, creating a shared language for researchers and a rigorous methodological approach for future generations.

The final years and the passing of a great scholar

After a life devoted to science and education, Dimitrie Brândză passed away on August 3, 1895, in Slănic-Moldova, leaving behind an invaluable legacy. 

Through his dedication and vision, Romania gained not only an emblematic institution, the Bucharest Botanical Garden, but also a lasting scientific tradition that continues to flourish.

A life devoted to the love of nature

Dimitrie Brândză remains one of the brightest figures in the history of Romanian science. He succeeded in uniting a passion for knowledge with devotion to education and nature. 

Through all his efforts, from the lecture hall to the laboratory, from expeditions through Romanian flora to the creation of a garden that still breathes life today, Brândză demonstrated that science can also be an expression of love for one’s country.

The Botanical Garden he founded remains the most beautiful monument to his memory, a place where research meets the beauty of nature, and where his name continues to inspire generations of biologists, teachers, and lovers of the natural world.

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