Botaanika rootsiaegses Tartu ülikoolis: Johannes Erici ja Andreas Arvidi disputatsiooni „De plantis” (1647) näitel

Although botany was not taught as an independent subject at the Swedish University of Tartu, plants were addressed within the context of medical studies. Professors of medicine were required to teach natural sciences on the basis of Johannes Magirus’ (?–1596) textbook “Physiologia peripatetica ex Aristotele”. At other Swedish Universities of the 17th century, at Uppsala and Turku, the first botanical treatises were written by professors of medicine, who also spearheaded the establishment of the first botanical gardens. In Tartu there was no botanical garden during that period, founding one was discussed to support medical studies. However, a disputation on plants – titled “De plantis” – emerged from the Swedish University of Tartu in 1647. The praeses of the disputation, Professor of Natural Sciences Johannes Erici Stregnensis (Stiernstråle, 1607–1686), and the respondent, student Andreas Arvidi (ca 1620–1673), both came from Strängnäs, Sweden, where botany was taught at the local gymnasium. A year later, the same student engaged in a debate on medicine presided by Professor of Medicine Sebastian Wirdig. This serves as evidence of the classical connection between botany and medicine.