Dr. Friedrich Welwitsch (1806 – October 20, 1872) was an Austrian explorer and botanist. 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 72 days remaining. ... 1872 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... See also explorations, sea explorers, astronaut, conquistador, travelogue, the History of Science and Technology and Biography. ... Botany is the scientific study of plant life. ...

Friedrich Welwitsch was born in Austria where he worked for some time as a theatre critic. Later he fled to Portugal where he started to work as a plant collector. Several years later he was sent to Angola by the Portuguese government where he made over 5000 collections during 12 years in the country. Some were completely new to science at that time and contained large amount of useful information.

When he returned from Angola Welwitsch decided to settle in London to stay close to the Natural History Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He worked there until his death in 1872. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to simply as Kew Gardens, are extensive gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond upon Thames and Kew in southwest London. ...

After his death the Portuguese Government (who funded his collections) took the executors of his estate to court to try to retrieve the collections. After a long court battle which lasted 3 years a compromise was reached - the Portuguese Government got the first set of duplicates and the Natural History Museum received the second set. The Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London, has an ornate terracotta facade typical of high Victorian architecture. ...

Dr. Friedrich Welwitsch is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London. His tombstone is decorated with an engraving of Welwitschia. Kensal Green Cemetery, located in Kensal Green, London, England, was incorporated in 1832, and is the oldest of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries still in operation. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... Binomial name Welwitschia mirabilis Hook. ...

The standard botanical author abbreviation Welw. is applied to species he described. In biology, binomial nomenclature is a standard convention used for naming species. ... In biology, a species is a kind of organism. ...

External links

• Namibweb (http://www.namibweb.com/welwitschia.htm)
• UConn Flora (http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/199700061.html)
• South Africa Travel (http://www.travel.za.net/africa_welwitschia_2.html)
• Kew Royal Botanic Gardens (http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/)