author
Robert H. Mohlenbrock
b. 1931
A leading expert on the plants of Illinois, this American botanist spent a lifetime exploring, teaching, and writing about the natural world. His books and field guides helped generations of readers recognize and appreciate native flora.
1 Audiobook
Forest Trees of Illinois (Third Edition)
by Robert H. Mohlenbrock
About the author
Born in Murphysboro, Illinois, on September 26, 1931, Robert H. Mohlenbrock became one of the best-known botanists connected with the flora of Illinois. He studied at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and later earned his Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1957.
He built his career as a botanist, teacher, and author, and was especially known for work in floristics, plant taxonomy, endangered species, and wetland flora. Mohlenbrock taught at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he served as chair of the botany department, and he later worked as a senior scientist with Biotic Consultants.
Alongside his scientific work, he wrote extensively for both specialists and general readers, producing numerous books and publications on wildflowers, ferns, forests, and field identification. He died on November 5, 2024, leaving behind a body of work that made botany more accessible to countless nature lovers.