
          59

Besler, Basilius (1561-1629)

Hortus eystettensis, sive, Diligens et accurata omnium 
plantarum, florum, stirpium, ex variis orbis terrae 
partibus, singulari studio collectarum, quae in
celeberrimis viridariis arcem episcopalem ibidem cingentibus, 
hoc tempore conspiciuntur, delineatio et ad
vivum repraesentatio. [Norimbergae] 1613.  366 pl.
in 2 v. F°. (Lib. Cong.; Mass. Hort. Soc.; Arn.
Arb.; Bib. Nat. Paris; Brit. Mus., and other collections)

The 2d ed., 1640 , and 3d ed., 1713, are both
located in Arn. Arb. and Mo. Bot. Gard. These
editions are considered rather inferior to the
first, but the 3d is exceedingly rare.

The garden itself was begun as long ago as
the time of bishop Heribert (1022-1042), and
reached its height of perfection under Johann
Konrad von Gemmingen,lord bishop of Eichstätt
from 1595 to 1612. Owing to the great number
of then rare plants that are figured or named
in this work, it has considerable interest for
the history of plant introduction. It is noted
by Gibault in Jour. Soc. Nat. Hort. France (4)
6:715 (1905), and discussed by Bouchard-Huzard
in the same, (2) 7:96-100 (1873); and it has
been carefully studied by J. Schwertschlager
under title: "Der botanische garten der fürstbischöfe 
von Eichstätt", in Jahres-bericht über
das Bischöfliche lyceum zu Eichstätt für das
studienjahr 1889/90, 112 p., Eichstätt, 1890.
(MFW)
        