Luis Sodiro (1836–1909) was an Italian Jesuit priest and a field botanist from Vicenza who described a large number of species from the area around Quito, Ecuador in the early 20th century.

[1] His botanical work was based on the collection of plant specimens from throughout Ecuador but with special emphasis on the surroundings of Quito including those on mountain peaks such as Corazón and Pichincha.

It followed the botanic classification established by A. P. de Candolle in his work Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis.

He also donated his herbarium to St. Gabriel College, Quito, which was later concentrated in the Ecuadorian Library Aurelio Espinosa Polit (QPLS).

[1] His life suddenly changed after the murder of President García Moreno in 1876, as the Polytechnic School closed its doors.

President Antonio Borrero he had offered to continue with the university but the revolution started by Ignacio de Veintemilla prevented it.

[2] He also wrote in 1890-1893, Cryptogamae Vasculares Quitenses Adiectis Speciebus in Aliis Provinciis Ditionis Ecudorensis Hactenus Detectis which described all known Pteridophyte (Ferns) in the area.

President José María Plácido Caamano named him the "Botanist of the Nation" in order to honor his scientific and humanistic work, especially in botany through the books and his publications.

His botanical knowledge was recognized and he published in scientific journals such as the Botanische Jahrbucher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Planzengeograpie in Germany.