Friedrich Alefeld


Friedrich Georg Christoph Alefeld was a botanist, author, and medical practitioner. Born in Weiterstadt-Gräfenhausen, Grand [Duchy of Hesse]; he described a number of plant species in his published works, taking a particular interest in legumes and Malvaceae. He attempted to give a systematic treatment of German crops in one work, in addition to writing treatises on herbal baths and cultivated plants of potential usefulness. A number of his essays appeared in the botanical literature of the day.
His works include:
  • Articles in Oesterreichische Botanische Zeitschrift The Austrian Botanical Magazine.
  • Landwirthschaftliche flora: oder Die nutzbaren kultivirten Garten- und Feldgewächse Mitteleuropa's in allen ihren wilden und Kulturvarietäten für Landwirthe, Gärtner, Gartenfreunde und Botaniker insbesondere für landwirthschaftliche Lehranstalten. Berlin, Wiegandt & Hempel, 1866.
  • Grundzüge der Phytobalneologie; oder, Der Lehre von den Kräuter-Bädern. Neuwied, Heuser, 1863..
  • Die Bienen-Flora Deutschlands und der Schweiz. Neuwied, Heuser, 1863. ; A work that describes the plants of the region that are pollinated by honey bees.
IPNI gives over 300 plants names with Alefeld as the author of the accepted descriptions. Many of these remain current.
He died at Ober-Ramstadt.