Alexandr Innokentevich Tolmatchew

Who is Alexandr Innokentevich Tolmatchew?

Alexandr Innokentevich Tolmatchew, also transliterated Tolmachev was a twentieth century Russian and Soviet botanist and phytogeographer who was a leading expert in the flora of Russia's Arctic. He is the editor of an important multi-volume set, Flora Of The Russian Arctic - A Critical Review Of The Vascular Plants Occurring In The Arctic Region Of The Former Soviet Union, edited by J. G. Packer and translated into English by G. C. D. Griffiths.

Tolmatchew was an expert in the family Juncaceae, and the West Siberian species Luzula tolmatchewii was named after him by Russian Arctic and subarctic botanist Vladimir Borisovich Kuvaev. He was also an expert in some areas of the Brassicaceae or mustard family, the Caryophyllaceae or carnation family, the Papaveraceae or poppy family and the Ranunculaceae or buttercup family.

Tolmatchew had broad interests in the natural history of the Arctic including its insects, birds and soils. He was appointed head of the USSR's Academy of Sciences Office for the Studies of the Northern Areas in Arkhangelsk in 1939 after serving for a few years as head of its botanical section.