He attended classes at the teachers' seminar in Küsnacht, followed by studies of biological sciences in Paris. From 1897 to 1899 he worked as a teacher in Naples. Afterwards, he received his doctorate in sciences from the University of Zürich, where in 1905, he became an associate professor. From 1909 to 1945 he was a professor of general botany at Zürich, being chosen university rector in 1928.[1]
His primary research dealt with the propagation of algae, the embryology of flowering plants and heterostyly in Primula species.[1] In 1905/06 and 1930/31 he was involved in botanical investigations in Java.[2]
Selected works
Bastardierung als Ursache der Apogamie im Pflanzenreich, 1918 – Hybridization as the cause of apogamy in the plant kingdom.
Genetische Studien über Heterostylie bei Primula, 1925 – Genetic studies of heterostyly in Primula.
Weitere Studien über die Vererbung der Calcycanthemie bei Primula, 1931 – Further studies on inheritance of calycanthema with Primula.
Die Nachkommenschaften aus Kreuzungen zwischen dimorphen und monomorphen Primula-Arten der Sektion Candelabra, 1943 – The progeny from crosses between dimorphic and monomorphicPrimula species of the section Candelabra.[3]