Franz Speta (22 December 1941 – 5 December 2015) was an Austrian botanist. He specialized in bulbous plants, especially the Hyacinthaceae.

Career

Speta worked as an apprentice for a clerk. He then studied at the

University of Vienna The University of Vienna (, ) is a public university, public research university in Vienna, Austria. Founded by Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, Duke Rudolph IV in 1365, it is the oldest university in the German-speaking world and among the largest ...

in the Department of Botany and Zoology. He wrote among professors such as Lothar Geitler and Tschermak Woess about the "evolution and karyology of elaiosomes to fruit and seeds." In 1972, he received a Ph.D. From 1970, he was a research associate at the Upper Austrian Provincial Museum Linz, initially as Head of botany and invertebrates, from 1985 as director deputy of the National Museum and 1990 to 1991 as interim director. From 1993 to 2003 he was head of the newly founded Biology Centre of the National Museum. In 1982, he received the venia legendi of Systematic Botany at the

University of Salzburg The University of Salzburg (, ), also known as the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (''Paris-Lodron-Universität Salzburg'', PLUS), is an Austrian public university in Salzburg, Salzburg municipality, Salzburg (federal state), Salzburg State, ...

. In 1994, he became the Councilor appointed.

Research

The research focus of Speta was the bulbous plants, especially the Hyacinthaceae focusing Scilla and

Ornithogalum ''Ornithogalum'' is a genus of perennial plants mostly native to southern Europe and southern Africa belonging to the family Asparagaceae. Some species are native to other areas such as the Caucasus. Some species are classified as noxious invas ...

. Other subjects are the tribes Antirrhineae the Scrophulariaceae, and Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae). He has published about 100 scientific papers. He also has approximately 50 biographical works, primarily about botany.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Speta, Franz 1941 births 2015 deaths 20th-century Austrian botanists University of Salzburg alumni University of Vienna alumni