Nicolas Theodore De Saussure

1767-1845

Swiss chemist and plant physiologist whose work provided the basis for phytochemistry.

After studying the formation of carbonic acid in plant tissues, he proved Steven Hales's theory that plants increase in weight after absorbing water and carbon dioxide in sunlight. Saussure showed the dependence of plants on the absorption of nitrogen from the soil. He also conducted important analyses of biochemical reactions in plant cells.