Johann Hieronymus Kniphof

Johann Hieronymus Kniphof ( born February 24, 1704 Erfurt, † January 23, 1763 ) was a German physician and botanist. He wrote an important herbarium. Its official botanical author abbreviation is " Kniph. ".

Life

After a visit to the Erfurt Ratsgymnasium 1719-1722 later studied in Jena and Erfurt. From 1727 he worked in Erfurt as a physician and lecturer in medicine. In 1736 he lost his house and his library by fire. Professor of medicine, he was in 1737 and 1747, he was appointed dean of the medical faculty. From 1761 to his death he was rector of the University of Erfurt.

Work

As the author of the first edition of a large and important herbarium, he appeared 1733. Second and third, respectively significantly expanded editions appeared in 1747 and 1758. His book Botanica in originality was the first significant work, which was classified according to the nomenclature of Linné. The printing technique used caused a stir, but brought the natural self- applied pressure, which was significantly developed by Kniphof, a hitherto unknown detail with illustrations of plants. About the further development of Kniphof preparation and printing techniques nothing is handed down.

Ehrentaxon

The botanist Conrad Moench named in his honor in 1794, the genre of Kniphofia Kniphofia. It belongs to the plant family of Asphodelus ( Asphodelaceae ).