Professor Povilas Snarskis – Life Dedicated to the Research of Lithuanian Flora

Abstract

Abstract The paper presents a brief biography of Professor Povilas Snarskis, and discusses the importance of his work for Lithuania. After defending PhD at Vytautas Magus University, P. Snarskis was able to collect invaluable data on the Lithuanian floristic diversity and distribution. He actively participated in the development of the Lithuanian higher education. In 1947, he became a professor and taught botany at Vilnius University and Vilnius Pedagogical Institute. During his professional career, P. Snarskis has published about 60 research and popular science works. He was a co-author of Flora of Lithuanian SSR and his three guides to native vascular plants still have their high value. The number of Snarskis’ herbarium specimens deposited at Vilnius University Herbarium (WI) and the Nature Research Centre, Institute of Botany Herbarium (BILAS) exceeds 20.000. P. Snarskis was an innovator, who used his logic and creativity, and constructed guidelines to achieve his goals in difficult historical times.