Albrecht Wilhelm Roth
Encyclopedia
Albrecht Wilhelm Roth was a physician and botanist who was a native of 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 known works were Tentamen florae germanica (a treatise on German flora), and Novae plantarum species praesertim Indiae orientali (a book of Indian flora). The latter work is largely based on botanical specimens collected by Moravian missionary Benjamin Heyne (1770-1819).
The botanical genus
Rothia from the subfamily Faboideae
is named after him.
Dötlingen
Dötlingen is a municipality in the district of Oldenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 6 km northwest of Wildeshausen, and 25 km southeast of Oldenburg at the Hunte river....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
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
Bremen-Vegesack
-Geography:Vegesack is located at the mouth of the river Lesum, beside the Weser River . Abutting the district of Vegesack to the northwest is the district of Blumenthal, in the southeast the district of Burglesum...
.
Roth is remembered for his influential scientific publications, particularly in the field of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
. His botanical research and writings came to the attention of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
(1749-1832), who recommended Roth to a position at the botanical institute at the University of Jena. Two of his better known works were Tentamen florae germanica (a treatise on German flora), and Novae plantarum species praesertim Indiae orientali (a book of Indian flora). The latter work is largely based on botanical specimens collected by Moravian missionary Benjamin Heyne (1770-1819).
The botanical genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Rothia from the subfamily Faboideae
Faboideae
Faboideae is a subfamily of the flowering plant family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. One acceptable alternative name for the subfamily is Papilionoideae....
is named after him.
Selected writings
- Beyträge zur Botanik, 1782-1783
- Tentamen florae germanicae, 1788-1800
- Catalecta botanica (with Franz Carl MertensFranz Carl MertensFranz Carl Mertens was a German botanist who was a native of Bielefeld. He specialized in the field of phycology....
), 1797-1806 - Novae plantarum species praesertim Indiae orientalis, 1821
- Enumeratio plantarum phaenogamarum in Germania sponte nascentium, 1827
- Manuale botanicum, 1830