> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 626](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33333765) of TL-2 Vol. V > Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/9721-1) LSID 9721-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21556309) QID Q21556309 > Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]] ### Author Skofitz, Alexander (1822-1892), Galicia-born Austrian botanist of Carniolan origin; grew up in Laibach (Ljubljana), studied pharmacy in pharmacies at Laibach, Pottendorf and Znaim (Moravia) and at the University of Vienna 1845-1847; collected plants in the Austrian empire; founded and edited the "Oesterreichisches botanisches Wochenblatt" (later Zeitschrift) 1851-1889; Dr. phil. Göttingen 1854. **Abbreviated name**: *Skofitz* \[standard form in IPNI: *Skofitz*\] #### Herbarium and types [[Collection W|W]]. – Some further material at [[Collection B|B]] (extant), [[Collection BP|BP]], [[Collection GFW|GFW]]. – Skofitz founded the "Botanischer Tauschverein in Wien" (originally called "Tauschverkehr" for legal reasons), an enterprise he ran from its foundation in 1846 until his death, handling 20-30.000 specimens per year; this society merged with the "Wiener Tausch-Herbarium" of Joseph von Leithner, a similar institution. After the merger (1857) Skofitz continued to handle the material from the Austrian Empire. See Anon., Bonplandia (1857) and ÖbW and ÖbZ for further details. – *Letters* to D.F.L. von Schlechtendal at [[Collection HAL|HAL]]; other letters at [[Collection G|G]]. #### Bibliography and biography AG 2(2): 405; Barnhart 3: 285 (b. 21 Jan 1822, d. 17 Nov 1892); Bossert p. 370; Futak-Domin p. 544; Herder p. 478; Morren ed. 2, p. 15, ed. 10, p. 31; WU 35: 73-76; Urban-Berl. p. 398. #### Biofile - Anon., Bonplandia 3: 158. 1855 (cogn. Leopoldina: Hoppe), 5: 189-190. 1857 (the "Botanischer Tauschverein in Wien, run by Skofitz, merges with the "Wiener Tausch-Herbarium", founded 1851 by J. v. Leithner; Skofitz will conduct the Austrian (s.l.) part, Leithner the rest of the world), 6: 53. 1858 ("Hoppe iii" in Leopoldina); Bot. Centralbl. 52: 351. 1892 (d.); J. Bot., Morot 3: 128. 1889 (R. v. Wettstein succeeds Skofitz as editor of ÖbZ); Nat. Nov. 14: 440. 1892 (d.). - Neilreich, A., Österr. bot. Z. 25: 1-4. 1875 (biogr. sketch, portr.). - Skofitz, A., Bonplandia 6: 386. 1858 (change ÖbW to ÖbZ). - Voss, W., Vers. Gesch. Bot. Krain (1754 bis 1883) 1: 38-39. 1884. - Wettstein, R. v., Österr. bot. Z. 42: \[i\]. 1892 (death notice). - Wittrock, V.B., Acta Horti Berg. 3(2): 85. 1903, 3(3): 70. 1905. #### Composite works Founder and editor of *Österreichisches botanisches Wochenblatt* 1-7, 1851 – 1857, continued as *Österreichische botanische Zeitschrift* 8-111, 1858-1964 (IDC 5598), (Skofitz editor up to and including 39(2). Feb 1889). The Wochenblatt ("weekly") was indeed published each week; the Zeitschrift was a very regular, monthly journal which constitutes the richest single source of information on the botany and botanists of the Austrian empire in the second half of the nineteenth century, but became also a rich source of bibliographical information because of its prompt noticing of new literature (see *Progr. Österr. bot. W*.-*Bl*. below). #### Eponymy *Skofitzia* Hasskarl et Kanitz (1872). ### Publications ##### n.12.052. Programm. Oesterreichisches botanisches Wochenblatt **Title** *Programm. Oesterreichisches botanisches Wochenblatt*. Gemeinnütziges Organ für Botanik und Botaniker, Gärtner, Oekonomen, Forstmänner, Aerzter, Apotheker und Techniker. \[Wien (gedruckt bei Carl Ueberreuter) 1851\]. **Abbreviated title**: *Progr. Österr. bot. W*.-*Blatt*. **Notes** *Publ*.: 1851, p. \[1-4\]. *Copies*: G, W. – Announcement and description of contents of the new ÖbW. On p. 4 information on the *Botanischer Tauschverein*, founded 1846, which now has 135 members and which has distributed 200.000 specimens.