Erich Nelson (14 April 1897, Berlin - 22 March 1980, Montreux, Switzerland) was a German artist, scientific illustrator, and botanist.
[citation needed] In 1928, Nelson encountered orchids for the first time while traveling in Italy; these plants inspired all his future artistic and scientific work.
In 1931, he published his first scientific book “Die Orchideen Deutschlands und angrenzender Gebiete” (The Orchids of Germany and Neighbouring Countries).
His friend Professor Walter Rytz from Bern, Switzerland, supported Nelson and Gerda in their escape.
[citation needed] After numerous journeys to the Mediterranean region, tirelessly drawing, and intensively studying orchids including at the Geobotanical Institute Rübel, in Zürich, he published four books between 1954 and 1976.