José Jerónimo Triana was born into a traditional Colombian family in Bogotá on May 22, 1828. His father, José María Triana, was a renowned educator, known for introducing Pestalozzi's teaching methods to Colombia. Triana studied at the Colegio del Espíritu Santo under the direction of Lorenzo María Lleras, where he later became assistant director and professor of botany.

In 1851, he was appointed botanist to the Chorographic Commission chaired by General Agustín Codazzi, despite his initial doubts about his preparation. For seven years, he explored a large part of Colombian territory, collecting a vast herbarium with some 60,000 specimens, many of them new species.

Triana qualified as a doctor in 1852, but his passion for botany led him to practice in parallel in Colombia and France, where he developed popular therapeutic products. In 1857, he moved to France to write a book on the useful plants of New Granada, a project commissioned by the Colombian government. He married Mercedes Umaña, who supported him throughout his career.

Triana decided to create a "Flora de la Nueva Granada" to correct the incomplete botanical concepts of the Colombian flora. Although his contract was suspended in 1860, the support of European botanists enabled him to continue his work and publish his research. In 1867, Triana presented his herbarium at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, where he was awarded a gold medal, which improved his financial situation and extended his contract. He also published the second volume of the "Prodomus", covering the Cryptogam families.

From 1874 until his death on October 31, 1890, Triana served as Colombian Consul General in Paris, continuing to contribute to botanical science.

Source :
https://bibliotecanacional.gov.co/es-co/colecciones/bibliografica/publicacion/jos%C3%A9-jer%C3%B3nimo-triana-(1828-al-1890)

https://academia-lab.com/encyclopedia/jose-jerome-triana/