German botanist. Born 1920, died 1988.
Professor of botany at the Botanische Staatsammlung at the Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (the University of Munich) 1956-1985. From 1969 also the director of the botanical gardens in Munich. Editor-in-chief/publisher of the massive botanical work Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika (1966-1972).
Merxmüller's specialty in the field of botany was the flowering plants of Africa. He personally discovered more than 100 new species of flowers in his many expeditions to that continent. He also wrote extensively on the subject of mediterranean and alpine flora.