Edmond Albius was a horticulturalist from Réunion. Born into slavery, Albius became an important figure in the cultivation of vanilla. At the age of 12, he invented a technique for pollinating vanilla orchids quickly and profitably. Albius's technique revolutionized the cultivation of vanilla and made it possible to profitably grow Vanilla planifolia away from its native habitat.

Charles François Antoine Morren, was a Belgian botanist and horticulturist, and Director of the Jardin botanique de l'Université de Liège.