Genus Vellozia

For Joaquim Velloso de Miranda (1733–1815), Portuguese-Brazilian Franciscan priest, naturalist and plant collector. He graduated in canonic law; studied at the University of Coimbra, Portugal (1772) under the Italian naturalist Dominicus Vandelli (1735–1816), obtaining a PhD (1778), then became a lecturer at the university and leading researcher. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Science of Lisbon. Years later, he returned to Brazil and collected plants in the Rio de Janeiro/Minas provinces, which he sent to Vandelli for the Royal Museum. In 1799, he established the botanical garden for Vila Rica following the orders of the Prince Regent.