Martin Vahl

Martin Heinrichsen Vahl was a Danish-Norwegian botanist and zoologist.

He studied botany in Copenhagen and Uppsala under Carolus Linnaeus. During this time, he edited several titles, and lectured at the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden (1779-1782).

Vahl had made several research trips in Europe and Africa between 1783 and 1788. In 1786, Vahl became proffesor at the Society for Natural History in Copenhagen. From 1801 until his death, Vahl was a full professor of botany at the University of Copenhagen.

His son, Jens Vahl also became a botanist.

The genus, Vahlia was named after Martin Vahl by Carl Peter Thunberg.

When citing a botanical name, Martin Vahl is abbreviated as Vahl.