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Philibert Commerson
The Man and The Scientist

Philibert Commerson was born at Châtillon-les-Dombes in the vicinity of Lyon in France.

Since his early youth he was interested in botany. He studied at Montpellier, graduated in medicine, returned to his hometown and married. His interest in botany continued to grow and in his free time he roamed the countryside to collect specimens and create his herbarium. At the request of Linneaus, he studied the marine fauna of the Mediterranean Sea.

Commerson was considered to be the most important natural history specialist of his time. His vast herbarium and numerous manuscripts were brought to Paris after his death where they did not receive the deserved recognition and were unfortunately, never systematically organised and evaluated. Numerous flora and fauna genera and species, such as plants, fish, frogs have been given his name.

The stamp depicts Commerson’s portrait and the Cylindrocline commersonii, an extremely rare plant endemic to Mauritius and are found only on the slopes of the Moka mountain range.