Career

Collecting localities

Collections

Literature

Biographical data

 

Demmeni, Jean

 

(Source: Flora Malesiana ser. 1, 1: Cyclopaedia of collectors)

 

Born: 1866, Padangpandjang, Sumatra. Died: 1939, Buitenzorg, Java.

 

career:

Non-commissioned officer who entered the D.E. Indian Army in 1888; later he was transferred to the Topographical Service. In 1896-97, and 1898-1900 he accompanied the expeditions of Nieuwenhuis (see there) to Borneo, in 1908 he took part in a topographical survey of Krakatau Island, and was the first to reach the summit; in 1909-11 he was a member of the Exploration in Dutch N. New Guinea, mainly as photographer and mentor of the Dyak coolies. Employed by the Topographical Service at Batavia, 1911-20; when pensioned off in the latter year, he continued work in the Central Office of Dactyloscopy.

Dendrobium demmenii J.J.Sm. was named after him.

 

Collecting localities:

1909-11. Dutch N. New Guinea. Accompanying the Mamberamo Expedition, Nov. 1909-Apr. 1910:1 Manokwari (Nov. 20, 1909); setting out (Jan. 3, 1910) to the Mamberamo, making Koetei bivouac near the mouth of Van Gelder River; Pionier bivouac (Jan. 20); Febr. 11 starting in southern direction; Lake District (March 27); at 850 m alt. (Apr. 2); return to Manokwari (Apr. 23); and several tours.

 

collections:

Herb. Bog. [BO]: some New Guinea orchids for J.J. Smith. Dendrobium demmenii was grown by him at Batavia.

Hort. Bog.: orchids from P. Djamna, P. Roon, Kaiserin Augusta River (= Sepik) (N. New Guinea), Selakei, Boeroe, Fak Fak (SW. New Guinea), Halmaheira, Amberbaken and Manokwari (NW. New Guinea) and Ambon (pres. 1919).

 

literature:

(1) cf. ‘Verslag van de militaire exploratie van Ned. Nieuw Guinea, 1907-15’ (Weltevreden 1920) p. 63-64.

J. Demmeni: ‘Uit Lang vervlogen tijden. Mamberamotocht 1910’ (De Orchidee 6, 1937, p. 172-178).

 

biographical data:

De Orchidee 3, 1934, p. 329; Backer, Verkl. Woordenb., 1936.