Paul Friedrich August Ascherson
Encyclopedia
Paul Friedrich August Ascherson (June 4, 1834 – March 6, 1913) was a German
botanist. His author citation is Asch., although Aschers. has been used in the past.
Ascherson was born in Berlin
in 1834 as the son of a counsellor of health. In 1850, he started studying medicine
at the University of Berlin, but soon started getting more interested in botany
. In 1855, he received his doctorate for a dissertation about the flora of the Margraviate of Brandenburg
. In the 1850s, he started to botanize in Saxony
, including several excursions with Ludwig Schneider and Gustav Maass
. In 1860, Ascherson became an assistant at the Botanical Garden in Berlin
, in 1865 he also started working at the Royal Herbarium. In 1863, he had been promoted to professor for specific botany and plant geography. In 1873, Ascherson became associate professor at the University of Berlin. He accompanied Friedrich Gerhard Rohlfs
on his 1873/74 expedition in the Libya
n desert. After 1876, he went on further expeditions in Africa
, publishing fundamental works about the flora of the continent. In the 1890s he botanized in Jerichower Land
and in the Vorharz
along with Paul Graebner.
Ascherson is known for combining works about the flora in certain localities with his own observations to write descriptions of the flora of a larger territory.He was also an entomologist. Insect collections made by him in Africa are conserved in Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin.
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...
botanist. His author citation is Asch., although Aschers. has been used in the past.
Ascherson was born in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1834 as the son of a counsellor of health. In 1850, he started studying medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Berlin, but soon started getting more interested in 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...
. In 1855, he received his doctorate for a dissertation about the flora of the Margraviate of Brandenburg
Margraviate of Brandenburg
The Margraviate of Brandenburg was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806. Also known as the March of Brandenburg , it played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe....
. In the 1850s, he started to botanize in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, including several excursions with Ludwig Schneider and Gustav Maass
Gustav Maass
Gustav Friedrich Hermann Maass was a German botanist who was a native of Brandenburg an der Havel.In 1848 he became an assistant to agriculturalist Hermann von Nathusius , and shortly afterwards spent twelve years in the military as an artilleryman in the 3rd Brandenburg Artillery Brigade, a...
. In 1860, Ascherson became an assistant at the Botanical Garden in Berlin
Botanical Garden in Berlin
Botanical Garden in Berlin is considered one of the most important gardens in the world, with area of 43 hectares and around 22,000 different plant species.The garden is located in the Dahlem neighborhood of the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf...
, in 1865 he also started working at the Royal Herbarium. In 1863, he had been promoted to professor for specific botany and plant geography. In 1873, Ascherson became associate professor at the University of Berlin. He accompanied Friedrich Gerhard Rohlfs
Friedrich Gerhard Rohlfs
Friedrich Gerhard Rohlfs was a German geographer, explorer, author and adventurer.He was born at Vegesack, now part of Bremen. There was much pressure on Rohlfs to be in the medicine field, and he eventually joined the French Foreign Legion in a medical capacity...
on his 1873/74 expedition in the Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
n desert. After 1876, he went on further expeditions in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, publishing fundamental works about the flora of the continent. In the 1890s he botanized in Jerichower Land
Jerichower Land
Jerichower Land is a district in the north-east of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Neighboring districts are Anhalt-Bitterfeld, Salzlandkreis, the district-free city Magdeburg, Börde, Stendal, and the districts Havelland and Potsdam-Mittelmark in Brandenburg.- History :In 1816, the area of the district...
and in the Vorharz
Vorharz
Vorharz is a Verbandsgemeinde in the Saalekreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated east of Halberstadt. It was created on 1 January 2010...
along with Paul Graebner.
Ascherson is known for combining works about the flora in certain localities with his own observations to write descriptions of the flora of a larger territory.He was also an entomologist. Insect collections made by him in Africa are conserved in Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin.