Franz Carl Mertens
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Franz Carl Mertens (April 3, 1764 - June 19, 1831) was a German botanist who was a native of Bielefeld. He specialized in the field of algology.
Mertens studied theology and languages at the University of Halle, and after graduation taught classes at Bremen Polytechnic College. In his spare time he studied botany, and through a mutual friend met German botanist Albrecht Wilhelm Roth (1757–1834). With Roth, he took scientific expeditions throughout Europe, including Scandinavia.
From these trips, Mertens described several species of algae. He also performed illustrative work on Volume 3 of Roth's Catalecta botanica. With Erlangen professor Wilhelm Daniel Joseph Koch (1771–1849), he edited Deutschlands flora, a five volume treatise on German flora.
The plant genus Mertensia from the family Boraginaceae is named after him.
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