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).