Friederich Welwitsch e a história natural de Portugal e de Angola

Abstract

Friederich Welwitsch (1806-1872), born in Carintia, studied the natural history of Portugal (1839-1853) and Angola (1853-1861) collecting a large number of specimens from all groups, including new species, such as Welwitschia mirabilis Hook.f. and Acanthosicyos horridus Hook.f., observed in Angola. During his stay in London (1863-1872) and consulting the British Museum and Kew Gardens collections, he published several works based on materials collected in Angola, mainly Sertum Angolensis (1869), his main work, in which he describes many new plant species. However, most of the natural history specimens collected by Welwitsch would not be studied by himself, but by other naturalists, of different nationalities. Although Welwitsch's scientific production was relatively limited, his legacy was of great relevance, as it enabled other naturalists to study the natural history of Portugal and Angola, thus advancing knowledge of the fauna and flora of these two countries.