Elizabeth Edgar

Elizabeth Edgar
Born 1929 (age 88–89)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Nationality New Zealander
Occupation botanist
Years active 1952–2010
Notable work co-author of 3 of the 5 volumes of the series Flora of New Zealand

Elizabeth Edgar (born 1929) is a botanist from New Zealand most known for her work in authoring and editing 3 of the 5 volumes of the series Flora of New Zealand, which describes and classifies the species of flora of the country. She is most noted for her taxonomy work on the biodiversity of New Zealand and is recognised as the foremost authority on nomenclature and description of the country's plants.

Early life

Elizabeth Edgar was born in 1929 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Her family were some of the first European settlers of New Zealand and her aunt, Marion Liddell Fyfe, was known as a pioneering zoologist from the University of Otago. She was educated at Rangi Ruru Girls' School in Merivale, and, encouraged by her mother, then attended Canterbury University College. Edgar graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in classics in 1950 and continued her studies while working as a library assistant for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) earning a Bachelor of Science in botany in 1953. Taking unpaid leave from DSIR, Edgar earned a master's degree with her thesis, The Special Characteristics of Some New Zealand cotulas with Particular Reference to their Breeding Systems in 1957 and then finished her PhD. Her doctoral thesis was The Cytology of the Shoot Apex in some Dicotyledons and was completed in 1960 at Canterbury University College.[1]

Career

Edgar returned to DSIR in 1959 working in the Botany Division at the Lincoln facility. She worked with Dr Lucy Beatrice Moore to revise the naming conventions of New Zealand's monocotyledons, particularly working on the varied and extensive rushes and sedges of the country. Their work was published as Volume II of the Flora of New Zealand, which catalogued all types of monocotyledon's in New Zealand except grasses.[1] Continuing her work on monocotyledons, Edgar worked with Arthur John Healy to identify both the naturalised and native species within each genus. In addition to her forty-nine research papers and four books concerning her taxonomic research, Edgar assembled a compendium of all of the taxonomy publications of the plants of New Zealand.[2]

Edgar coordinated and supervised the publication of David J. Galloway's volume Flora of New Zealand: Lichens[3] and then worked with Henry E. Connor to compile the extensive taxonomy of New Zealand's grasses. She retired from DSIR in 1988, but continued to work on the grasses project until they were published as Volume V of the Flora of New Zealand series.[1] Working as a research fellow for Landcare Research, with Connor, also retired but working as a fellow of Canterbury University, the two compiled a study of all currently known grasses in the country's biogeographical region.[4] As grasses are the most important flora in terms of economic and ecologic value to the country, the volume was an important contribution to evaluating the biodiversity of the country.[1] both Edgar and Connor were recognised with the Royal Society Te Apārangi's Hutton Medal in 2000, for their works classifying and documenting the flora of New Zealand.[5] Edgar has been cited as the "foremost authority on naming and describing plants" in the country.[3][6] In 2010, the duo published a revision of Volume V. The Flora of New Zealand series are unique, as all of the descriptions are taken from measurements and notes collected in New Zealand, garnering international recognition.[7]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter 2000, p. 29.
  2. ↑ New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter 2000, pp. 29–30.
  3. 1 2 New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter 2000, p. 30.
  4. ↑ Mark 2000, p. 27.
  5. ↑ de Lange 2016, p. 1.
  6. ↑ de Lange 2016, p. 6.
  7. ↑ de Lange 2016, pp. 2, 6.
  8. ↑ IPNI.  Edgar.

Bibliography

  • de Lange, P. J. (August 2016). "Aequi iniqui Henry E. Connor CNZM, MSc(Hons), DSc, FRSNZ – Man of Science (4 August 1922 – 26 July 2016)" (PDF). Trilepidea. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Plant Conservation Network (153): 1–7. ISSN 1171-9982. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  • Mark, Alan (March 2000). "Book Reviews: Edgar, E. and H. E. Connor, Flora of New Zealand Vol V. Grasses. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, 2000. 650pp" (PDF). New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter. Christchurch, New Zealand: New Zealand Botanical Society (59): 27–28. ISSN 2230-3502. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  • "Tribute to Dr Elizabeth Edgar, leading plant taxonomist and flora-writer" (PDF). New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter. Christchurch, New Zealand: New Zealand Botanical Society (60): 29–30. June 2000. ISSN 2230-3502. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
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