Botanical drawings remain an indispensable tool in contemporary botanical research and education, significantly supporting both teaching and scientific work. They allow precise documentation and identification of plant species by highlighting specific features that are often not as clearly visible in photographs.
The family Lauraceae, commonly known as the laurel or avocado family, is one of the most frequent and ecologically significant woody plant families in humid tropical and subtropical forests worldwide. However, our knowledge of this group is still incomplete. Its phylogeny is only partially resolved, and we know little about the biology of most species. Many species within the larger genera are almost impossible to identify due to a lack of keys and recent revisions.
The majority of the detailed drawings in this collection were created between 1982 and 1986 by Jens G. Rohwer during his dissertation work, in which he examined numerous specimens from many herbaria around the world and analyzed their structures. Prof. Dr. Jens G. Rohwer held the position of professor of botany (systematics, evolution, and biodiversity of plants) at our university from 2000 until 2024.
Most drawings were made with a camera lucida, on DIN A6 paper (105 x 148 mm).
From this collection a total of 1477 digital objects are displayed in FUNDus
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Pleurothyrium reflexum Lasser Accepted name: Pleurothyrium trianae (Mez) Rohwer Collector: Tamayo Collection Number: 1094 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: heterotypic (taxonomic) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Pleurothyrium Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: Tipo en el Herbario Nacional de Venezuela colectado por Fr. Tamayo (n. 1904), entre San Isidro y Guarico, Edo. Lara. Febrero 1939. License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17802820 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Pleurothyrium velutinum Meisn. Accepted name: Andea velutina (Meisn.) van der Werff Collector: Jervise Collection Number: s.n. Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: homotypic (nomenclatural) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Andea Comments: Basis of Ocotea calophylla Mez, nom. illeg. Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: In Colombiâ circa Antioquia (Jervise !). (v. s. in hb. Hook.) License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17800947 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Pleurothyrium williamsii O.C. Schmidt Accepted name: Pleurothyrium williamsii O.C. Schmidt Collector: Williams Collection Number: 1766 Nomenklaturstatus: accepted Family: Lauraceae Genus: Pleurothyrium Comments: There is and there was no "Field Museum Washington"; the Field Museum is in Chicago. Photos of the type specimen in B show a specimen from F. Van der Werff (1993) wrote: "holotype, F, probably lost"; Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: Peru: Dept. Loreto, Pebas on the Amazon River, July 1929 – Llewelyn Williams n. 1766 (Field Museum Washington)! License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17802364 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Pleurothyrium zulianense Lasser Accepted name: Pleurothyrium trianae (Mez) Rohwer Collector: Pittier Collection Number: 10947 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: heterotypic (taxonomic) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Pleurothyrium Comments: Original spelling "zulianensis" corrected in accordance with the Code. Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: Tipo en el Herbario Nacional de Venezuela colectado por H. Pittier (n. 10947), en selvas claras del río Lora, Edo. Zulia. Flores, Diciembre 1922. License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17802821 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Potameia crassifolia Kosterm. Accepted name: Potameia crassifolia Kosterm. Collector: coll.ign. Collection Number: SF14203 Nomenklaturstatus: accepted Family: Lauraceae Genus: Potameia Imaging technique: Illustration License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17803974 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Potameia siamensis Kosterm. Accepted name: Beilschmiedia Collector: Hansen Collection Number: 12131 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: misidentification Family: Lauraceae Genus: Beilschmiedia Comments: Trimerous, therefore a Beilschmiedia by definition, nevertheless not treated by de Kok, Thai Forest Bull., Bot. 49(1): 1–26. 2021. Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: Typus: Hansen & Smitinand 12131 (C). Northern: Chaing [sic!] Mai, Doi Suthep, alt. 1150 m, Oct., buds, Sørensen, Larsen & Hansen 5642 (C). Peninsular: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Khao Luang, alt. 750 m, Jan., fls. yellowish green, Hansen & Smitinand 12131 (C). License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17806026 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Potameia thouarsiana (Baill.) Capuron Accepted name: Potameia thouarsiana (Baill.) Capuron Collector: coll.ign. Collection Number: SF14156 Nomenklaturstatus: accepted Family: Lauraceae Genus: Potameia Imaging technique: Illustration License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/16400007 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Potameia thouarsii Roem. & Schult. Accepted name: Potameia thouarsii Roem. & Schult. Collector: Lam Collection Number: 5702 Nomenklaturstatus: accepted Family: Lauraceae Genus: Potameia Imaging technique: Illustration License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17803968 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Potoxylon melagangai (Symington) Kosterm. Accepted name: Potoxylon melagangai (Symington) Kosterm. Collector: Dangi Collection Number: A 1607 Nomenklaturstatus: accepted Family: Lauraceae Genus: Potoxylon Imaging technique: Illustration License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17805006 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Ravensara acuminata (Willd. ex Meisn.) Baill. Accepted name: Cryptocarya litoralis van der Werff Collector: coll.ign. Collection Number: SF13323 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: homotypic (nomenclatural) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Cryptocarya Comments: Baillon obviously intended to place this species in Ravensara. Still it can be discussed if Ravensara acuminata (Willd. ex Meisn.) Baill. represents a valid new combination. Baillon wrote "On a décrit jusqu'ici trois espèces de ce genre, savoir, le R. aromatica Sonn., qu'ont récolté à Madagascar Dupetit-Thouars, Bojer, Neumann, Boivin, Pervillé, et les deux espèces que Willdenow a nommées Agathophyllum retusum et acuminatum." In Cryptocarya, the combination is occupied by C. acuminata Merr. Imaging technique: Illustration License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17803986 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Ravensara crassifolia (Baker) Danguy Accepted name: Cryptocarya crassifolia Baker Collector: Ursch Collection Number: 15 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: homotypic (nomenclatural) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Cryptocarya Imaging technique: Illustration License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17800702 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Ravensara tapak Baill. Accepted name: Ocotea cymosa (Nees) Palacky Collector: coll.ign. Collection Number: s.n. Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: heterotypic (taxonomic) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Ocotea Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: Laurus madagascariensis J. Poivre, herb. Juss. (Vernac. Tapak). — N ? herb. Mus. par. License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17804276 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Rhodostemonodaphne rufovirgata Madriñán Accepted name: Rhodostemonodaphne rufovirgata Madriñán Collector: Boom Collection Number: 1811 Nomenklaturstatus: accepted Family: Lauraceae Genus: Rhodostemonodaphne Comments: Floral details of holotype. Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: Type: FRENCH GUIANA. Saul, La Fumeé mountain, 3°37'N, 53°12'W, 200–400 m, 24 Sep 1982 (♂), Boom & Mori 1811 (holotype: NY; isotypes: CAY–n.v., MO). Additional specimens examined: FRENCH GUIANA. Above Petit Saut, between Plomb creek and Tigre creek, 500 m above Saut Tigre, 5°00'N, 53°01'W, 87 m, Aug 27 1993 (sterile), Mori et al. 23393 (NY); Saint-Élie road, between Sinnamary/Counamama rivers, ca. 5°20'N, 53°00'W, ca. 100 m, 2 Oct 1989 (sterile), Prévost & Sabatier 2920 (MO); Nouragues station, Arataye river basin, ca. 4°03'N, 52°42'W, 100–500 m, 4 Nov 1987 (sterile), Sabatier & Prévost 1975 (MO); Passoura creek, littoral region, ca. 5°08'N, 52°41'W, ca. 100 m, 9 May 1992 (sterile), Sabatier & Prévost 4014 (MO); Pararé falls, Arataye river, ca. 4°03'N, 52°42'W, 100–500 m, 6 Nov 1977 (sterile), Sastre 5901 (CAY). Saül: La Fumée mountain, 3°37'N, 53°12'W, 200–400 m, 17 Oct 1982 (♂), Mori et al. 15103 (NY); Eaux Claires, near Saül, ca. 3°37'N, 53°12'W, 200 m, 9–10 Aug 1993 (sterile), van der Werif et al. 12954 (NY); vicinity of Eaux Claires, on hill behind large tourist "carbet," 3°37'N, 53°12'W, ca. 250–300 m, Sep 5 1994 (♂), Mori et al. 23832 (GH, NY). License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/50068831 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Sassafridium macrophyllum Rose Accepted name: Nectandra hihua (Ruiz & Pav.) Rohwer Collector: Palmer Collection Number: 1033 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: heterotypic (taxonomic) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Nectandra Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: Very abundant in the wet bottom of a small creek on the opposite side of the bay from Manzanillo, December 1 to 31, 1890. [Palmer] No. 1033. License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17806220 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Strychnodaphne lanceolata Nees Accepted name: Ocotea lancifolia (Schott) Mez Collector: Sello Collection Number: 1367 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: heterotypic (taxonomic) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Ocotea Comments: Nees cited "Herb. Reg. Berol. n. 1267. ex parte" as the type in Syst. Laur. 474. 1836. He also annotated a specimen with the number 1367 in B (10 0185305) as Strychnodaphne lanceolata. Therefore, C.K. Allen thought that "1267" was a typo instead of "1367" and annotated this specimen as the holotype. This was accepted by Rohwer (1986). However, this is a flowering specimen and Nees wrote "cum fructu immaturo". Therefore, it cannot be the holotype. Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: In Brasilia tropica, cum fructu immaturo; Sellow. License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17804526 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Strychnodaphne puberula var. angustata Meisn. Accepted name: Ocotea puberula (Rich.) Nees Collector: Widgren Collection Number: 399 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: superfluous renaming (illegitimate) Family: Lauraceae Genus: Ocotea Comments: Inclusion of Oreodaphne acutifolia var. latifolia Nees by Meissner makes this name illegitimate. Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: In Brasiliâ (Sell. n. 417 ! 1382 ! Widgren n. 399 ! Lindberg n. 459 !). Oreodaphne acutifolia β latifolia Nees in hb. Berol.! Syst. p. 419. Myrtus dioica Spreng. in hb. Berol., Syst. 2, p. 486. (v. s. sine fr. in hb. Berol, Hook., Mart., etc.) License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17804264 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Strychnodaphne puberula var. truncata Meisn. Accepted name: Ocotea puberula (Rich.) Nees Collector: Focke Collection Number: s.n. Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: heterotypic (taxonomic) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Ocotea Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: In Guianâ angl., batavâ et gall. (Schomb. n. 411 ! Focke ! Poiteau !). S. puberula var. leucophloea Nees! mss. in hb. Berol. (v.s. in hb. Berol., Hook., Petrop.) License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/50194237 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Strychnodaphne suaveolens Griseb. Accepted name: Ocotea puberula (Rich.) Nees Collector: coll.ign. Collection Number: 905 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: misidentification Family: Lauraceae Genus: Ocotea Comments: Originally determined as Strychnodaphne suaveolens by Grisebach, but clearly different from the type collection, Balansa 2021. Imaging technique: Illustration License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17806173 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Strychnodaphne suaveolens Griseb. Accepted name: Nectandra megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez Collector: Balansa Collection Number: 2021 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: heterotypic (taxonomic) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Nectandra Comments: Grisebach described Strychnodaphne suaveolens based on this collection, but he cited "Syn. Oreodaphne Msn. ex descr. et loco" in synonymy. This refers to Oreodaphne suaveolens Meisn., a synonym of Ocotea diospyrifolia (Meisn.) Mez. This collection, however, represents Nectandra megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez. Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: O.: Oran; Tarija, pr. Itau ("Gr. Chaco" — Paraguay: Bal. 2021.) License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17806173 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Strychnodaphne suaveolens Griseb. Accepted name: [uncertain] Collector: Lorentz Collection Number: 353 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: misidentification Family: Lauraceae Comments: Originally determined as Strychnodaphne suaveolens by Grisebach and from the locality "Orán" cited in the protologue, but clearly different from the type collection, Balansa 2021. Imaging technique: Illustration License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17806173 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Synandrodaphne laxa Meisn. Accepted name: Rhodostemonodaphne laxa (Meisn.) Rohwer Collector: Goudot Collection Number: s.n. Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: homotypic (nomenclatural) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Rhodostemonodaphne Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: In Novâ Granatâ circa Quindiu (Goudot!). (v.s. in hb. Hook.) License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/32000584 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Systemonodaphne geminiflora (Meisn.) Mez Accepted name: Kubitzkia mezii (Kosterm.) van der Werff Collector: Jangoux Collection Number: 968 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: nomen confusum Family: Lauraceae Genus: Kubitzkia Comments: Systemonodaphne geminiflora (Meisn.) Mez was based on one of the two syntypes of Goeppertia geminiflora Meisn., viz. Martin 45 from French Guiana. The other syntype, Guillemin 231 from Rio de Janeiro, is the type of Phyllostemonodaphne geminiflora (Mez) Kostermans. Both are different from Laurus geminiflora Desv. ex Ham., cited by Meissner and by Mez. See van der Werff (Taxon 35(1): 165. 1986.) for the reason why neither Systemonodaphne nor geminiflora can be accepted for this species. Imaging technique: Illustration License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17800492 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Teleiandra glauca Nees & Mart. Accepted name: Ocotea teleiandra (Meisn.) Mez Collector: Sello Collection Number: 399 Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: homotypic (nomenclatural) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Ocotea Comments: Meissner (in DC., Prodr. 15(1): 138. 1864) placed this name in the synonymy of Oreodaphne teleiandra Meisn., which was acceptable because the name Oreodaphne glauca had already been occupied by a species published by Nees 1833. Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: In Brasilia; Sellow. License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17804521 
Photo: Jens G. Rohwer
Title: Tetranthera megapotamica Spreng. Accepted name: Nectandra megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez Collector: Sello Collection Number: s.n. Nomenklaturstatus: not accepted: homotypic (nomenclatural) synonym Family: Lauraceae Genus: Nectandra Imaging technique: Illustration Original type data: Rio Grande. Sello. License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 Copyright: Jens G. Rohwer Tropicos Link: https://tropicos.org/name/17804661 
