As a young man he assisted botanist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire (1779–1853) with studies of Brazilian flora. From 1842 until 1872 he worked as a naturalist at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris.
As a young man, he supported botanist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire's research on Brazilian plants. From 1842 until 1872, he held a position as a naturalist at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle in Paris.