Albrecht Wilhelm Roth

The Linnaeus Obelisk that commemorates the naturalists Carl von Linné, Albrecht Wilhelm Roth, Albrecht von Haller and Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin

Albrecht Wilhelm Roth (6 January 1757 - 16 October 1834) was a physician and botanist born in Dötlingen, Germany.

He studied medicine at the Universities of Halle and Erlangen, where he received his doctorate in 1778. After graduation he practiced medicine in Dötlingen, and shortly afterwards relocated to Bremen-Vegesack.

Roth is remembered for his influential scientific publications, particularly in the field of botany. His botanical research and writings came to the attention of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832), who recommended Roth to a position at the botanical institute at the University of Jena.

Two of his better written works were Tentamen florae germanica (a treatise on German flora), and Novae plantarum species praesertim Indiae orientalis (a book of Indian flora). The latter work is primarily based on botanical specimens collected by Moravian missionary Benjamin Heyne (1770–1819).^[1][2]

The botanical genus Rothia from the family Fabaceae is named after him.^[3]

Selected writings

• Anweisung für Anfänger Pflanzen zum Nutzen und Vergnügen zu sammlen und nach dem Linneischen System zu bestimmen, 1778.^[4]
• Beyträge zur Botanik, 1782–1783
• Tentamen florae germanicae, 1788–1800
• Catalecta botanica (with Franz Carl Mertens), 1797–1806
• Anweisung Pflanzen zum Nutzen und Vergnügen zu sammlen und nach dem Linneischen Systeme zu bestimmen, 1803.^[5]
• Novae plantarum species praesertim Indiae orientalis, 1821.^[6]
• Enumeratio plantarum phaenogamarum in Germania sponte nascentium, 1827
• Manuale botanicum, 1830

References

1. B. Heyne - Nationaal Herbarium Nederland
2. Plant Science Bulletin June 1976 A Publication of the Botanical Society of America, Inc. Volume 22 No. 2
3. Google Books CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms ... By Umberto Quattrocchi
4. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Anweisung für Anfänger Pflanzen zum Nutzen und Vergnügen zu sammlen und nach dem Linneischen System zu bestimmen
5. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Anweisung Pflanzen zum Nutzen und Vergnügen zu sammlen und nach dem Linneischen Systeme zu bestimmen
6. Google Books Novae plantarum species praesertim Indiae orientalis
7. "Author Query for 'Roth'". International Plant Names Index.

• This article is based on a translation of an article from the French Wikipedia.