Name Origin: German
Name Gender: Male
masc. proper name, from German Bernhard, virtually "bold as a bear," from Old High German bero "bear" (see bear (n.)) + harti "hard, bold, strong" (see tough).
French physiologist noted for research on secretions for the alimentary canal together with glycogenic function of the liver (1813-1878)
The determining cause of the formation of the tubers is not certainly known, but Professor Bernard has suggested that it is the presence of a fungus, Fusarium solani, which, growing in the underground shoots, irritates them and causes the swelling; the result is that an efficient method of propagation is secured independently of the seed.