Johannes Leunis

Johannes Matthias Joseph Leunis (2 June 1802 – 30 April 1873) was a German clergyman, naturalist and botanist.

Leunis was born in Mahlerten to Flemish-origin farmer and shop-owner Ferdinand and his wife Dorothea née Plötze.

Leunis published several books on natural history particularly to meet the needs of the education system in Hanover that he was involved in reorganizing.

Several of his books, particularly his Schulnaturgeschichte and Analytischer Leitfaden were in use as textbooks for half a century with several editions produced after his death.

A museum in his memory was opened in 1914 at the Josephinum Gymnasium and plant genus Leunisia was named in his honour.