KARL v. MAR TIUS 
(1794—1869) 
German botanist and traveller, was sent in 1817 with the zoologist Spix on an expedition for the 
scientific exploration of Brazil, which occupied them three years. During that time they explored 
the provinces of S. Paulo, Minas, Geraes, Gayaz, Bahia, Pernambuco, Maranháo and the districts 
adjacent to the great rivers Amazonas, the Rio Negro y Rio Madeira. 
Among the several elaborate works, in which Martius gave to the world the rich fruits of his 
observations and discoveries the Flora Brasiliensis or Enumeratio plantarum, based upon the large 
collection of plants made by the author himself, has become not only the standard work of the 
Brazilian Flora, but one of the best and most important botanical works ever published. 'This 
monumental publication consists of no less than 40 folio volumes representing the whole of the 
Brazilian Flora in a completeness that stands nearly without a rival in the botanic literature of 
the time. In addition to Brazilian plants there are also many other specimens illustrated found 
far beyond the political boundaries of present-day Brazil, so that the work may practically be 
regarded as a survey of the entire South American Flora in general. In the preparation of so 
comprehensive a work Mr. Martius has had the advantage of being assisted by quite a number 
of the most prominent botanists both in Germany and abroad, such as Nees von Esenbeck, Grise- 
bach, Miquel, Tulasne, Endlicher, Fenzl, and others. The 3811 plates, which form the bulk of 
the work, offer in accordance with modern scientifical methods not only full illustration of every 
plant, but furnish also many very interesting and instructive details, which in exactness of design 
may hardly be surpassed by any other work. Besides a careful description of each plant illustrated 
the text includes also chapters on the geographical distribution of the varius specimens as well 
as on the use made of them for the purposes of fooding, clothing, medicine and so on. A special 
feature of the work are the tabulae physiognomicae, pictures of landscapes characteristic of 
Brazilian vegetation, reproduced from original drawings made on the spot by the author himself, 
who has also contributed the text to the Anonaceae and Agaveae sections. The two maps included 
in the work may be of special interest as giving a general synopsis of the more important voyages 
made by Martius and the distribution of the various classes of Brazilian plants explored. 
Since the date of its publication the importance of the present work by Martius has been acknow- 
ledged in the highest terms of praise and there can be no doubt that this work will continue to 
take a first place among the best botanical publications even in our very proficient days. 
