Hermann Vöchting

Who is Hermann Vöchting?

Hermann Vöchting was a German botanist.

He studied botany in Berlin, where he was influenced by Alexander Braun, Leopold Kny, and Nathaniel Pringsheim, earning his doctorate in 1873 at the University of Göttingen with a thesis on Rhipsalideae. From 1874 he worked as a lecturer at the University of Bonn, distinguishing himself with experimental studies involving plant morphology.

In 1878 he succeeded Wilhelm Pfeffer as chair of botany at the University of Basel, later relocating to the University of Tübingen, where he again was Pfeffer's successor. At Tübingen he was also appointed director of the botanical institute.

Vöchting is remembered for his pioneer investigations in the field of plant physiology, including important studies involving plant root/shoot polarity.

Today the "Hermann-Vöchting-Gymnasium" in Blomberg is named in his honour.