Albrecht Wilhelm Roth

Albrecht Wilhelm Roth (January 6, 1757 - October 16, 1834) 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.

Selected writings

• Beyträge zur Botanik, 1782-1783
• Tentamen florae germanicae, 1788-1800
• Catalecta botanica (with Franz Carl Mertens), 1797-1806
• Novae plantarum species praesertim Indiae orientalis, 1821
• Enumeratio plantarum phaenogamarum in Germania sponte nascentium, 1827
• Manuale botanicum, 1830

References

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