Franz Xaver Heller


Franz Xaver Heller was a German physician and botanist.
He studied medicine at the University of Würzburg, graduating in 1800 with doctorates in medicine and surgery. In 1803 he became an associate professor at Würzburg, and two years later was appointed a full professor of botany. In 1828 he was named rector of the university. During the same year, he became a corresponding member of the Medico-Botanical Society of London.
He is best known as author of the Flora Wirceburgensis, published in two parts, with a supplement issued in 1815. After his death, his herbarium was passed on to botanist August Schenk.
In 1824, the genus Helleria was named in honor of him and his brother, Georg, by Nees and Martius.

Published works