Studies of botany at the Universities of Jena (1864) and Berlin (1865); 1867 Dr. phil. from the University of Göttingen with a dissertation entiteled Musa Ensete. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Bananen; 1867 curator at the Landwirtschaftliches Museum (Museum of Agriculture) in Berlin; organization of the Museum of Agriculture including plant breeding; 1874 habilitation from the University at Berlin; 1880-1913 professorship in botany at the Landwirtschaftliche Hochschule (Institute of Agriculture) in Berlin; 1880-1920 professorship in botany at the Tierärztliche Hochschule (Veterinary Institute) in Berlin; 1875-1905 director of the experimental station of the Verband Deutscher Müller; 1883-1924 member of the department for seed breeding at the Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft; 1889-1891 and 1910-1913 director of the Institute of Agriculture.
