Friedrich Karl Johann Vaupel

Friedrich Karl Johann Vaupel ( 23 May 1876, Kreuznach – 4 May 1927, Berlin) was a German botanist who specialized in the study of cacti. He was the binomial authority of many species within the family Cactaceae.^[1]

He studied medicine and natural sciences in Berlin, Heidelberg and Munich, obtaining his PhD in 1903 as a student of Karl Ritter von Goebel at Munich. While still a student, he participated in a scientific journey to Mexico and the West Indies (1899–1900). Following graduation, from 1903 to 1907, he was involved in an extended expedition to India, Australia and Samoa.^[2]

In 1908 he began work as an assistant at the botanical museum in Berlin-Dahlem, where in 1921 he became a curator. In 1926 he was awarded with the title of professor. The genus Vaupelia was named in his honor by botanist August Brand (1863–1930).^[2]

Published works

He was an editor of the multi-volume "Blühende Kakteen (Iconographia cactacearum)", issued in 45 parts from 1900 to 1921. The project was originated by Karl Moritz Schumann in 1900, and continued by Max Gürke and Vaupel.^[3] Other written efforts by Vaupel include:

• Vier von Ule in Nordbrasilien und Peru gesammelte Kakteen, (1913).
• Zeitschrift für Sukkulentenkunde, (editor).
• Die Kakteen: Monographie der Cactaceae, (1925, 1926).^[4]

References