In memoriam Professor Dr. Dieter Podlech

Dieter Podlech, full professor of plant systematics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany, passed away peacefully on 21 December 2021. A committed scientist and conservationist, was an internationally renowned expert Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Campanulaceae, saxifrages, genus Astragalus, with 3000 species, one world's largest genera. Dieter's contributions to our knowledge floras Afghanistan, Iran, China, but also Central Europe are immense. He published comprehensive floristic treatments for Flora Southwest Africa, Iranica, China. described 1095 new taxa made tens thousands herbarium specimens; 28 have been named in is honor. born Aachen 24 April 1931. studied pharmaceutical botany University Bonn obtained his doctorate there, first publication (in 1955), still as a student, focusing Myxomycota Rhineland-Palatinate doctoral thesis ecology coastal Atlantic species. In 1960, he accepted postdoctoral position where did habilitation 1965, working Hermann Merxmüller (1920–1988). From 1965 1967, curator Munich Herbarium (Botanische Staatssammlung München, M) from 1967 1971, assistant University's botanical institute, located grounds Botanical Garden same building herbarium. became 1971 retired 1996. Following retirement, continued work tirelessly, coming into almost daily until 2016, when declining health forced him reduce time institute (Fig. 1). had exceptionally strong interest in, capacity for, field work, which often led abroad. Between 1979, undertook four excursions spending total 44 months there collecting throughout country. Until Soviet invasion were close ties between botanists Afghanistan long stays Kabul by Helmut Freitag 1966–1970), Podlech 1969–1971, 1978–1979), Siegmar-W. Breckle 1966–1969, 1976), Olaf Anders (1965–1978), Alfred Dieterle (1965–1978). The 40,000 specimens today forms core Munich's Afghan holdings. wife Maria, whom met married while Bonn, five children, providing their education priority Dieter. This may reason why 1991, years before decided donate personal 200,000 university, requesting only donation receipt that be mounted especially stamped paper, its own code (acronym MSB), otherwise fully intercalated main (M). ingenious plan justified newly created technical position, paid 2005 2006 installation compactor cases combined collection, overflowed traditional steel cases. this way, benefitted entire linked university Bavarian natural history collections. Based deep habitats ecology, done research, powerful advocate biological conservation. For example, 1991/92 1998, strongly protested enlargement North marshalling yard additional Autobahn section north Munich. As professor, beloved because many led, including Morocco, Sahara 1980, 1981, 1982), Tunisia, Algeria south Hoggar Mountains. These up 5-week-long bus trips during focus study adaptions whole gamut biodiversity, birds insects. Podlech's legacy specimens, will pay dividends future scientists; gone, lifelong collection efforts remain.