Charles Gardner
Encyclopedia
Charles Austin Gardner was a Western Australia
n botanist.
Born in Lancaster
, England
on 6 January 1896, he emigrated to Western Australia with his family in 1909.
He showed an interest in art
and botany
from youth, and was appointed a botanical collector for the Forests Department in 1920. The following year he was appointed botanist to the Kimberley Exploration Expedition, resulting in his first botanical publication, Botanical Notes, Kimberley Division of Western Australia, in which twenty new species
were described. In 1924 he transferred to the Department of Agriculture, and following a departmental re-organisation in 1928 he was appointed Government Botanist and Curator of the State Herbarium
. During this time he also wrote about botanical topics in the local Western Australian media including Our Rural Magazine
.
He travelled widely and published around 320 papers, the most important of which were in which were Contributions to the Flora of Western Australia in Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia (from 1923), Enumeratio Plantarum Australiae Occidentalis (1930) and Flora of Western Australia Volume 1, Part 1, Gramineae (1952). He described eight genera and about 200 new species. In 1937 he became the first Australian Botanical Liaison Officer
at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
.
He was awarded the Medal of the Royal Society of Western Australia
in 1949.
He retired in 1962, and died from diabetes at Subiaco, Western Australia
on 24 February 1970, aged 74. His personal botanical collection was bequeathed to the Benedictine
Community at New Norcia
, but was transferred to the State Herbarium in Perth
in June 1970.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n botanist.
Born in Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on 6 January 1896, he emigrated to Western Australia with his family in 1909.
He showed an interest in art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
from youth, and was appointed a botanical collector for the Forests Department in 1920. The following year he was appointed botanist to the Kimberley Exploration Expedition, resulting in his first botanical publication, Botanical Notes, Kimberley Division of Western Australia, in which twenty new species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
were described. In 1924 he transferred to the Department of Agriculture, and following a departmental re-organisation in 1928 he was appointed Government Botanist and Curator of the State Herbarium
Western Australian Herbarium
The Western Australian Herbarium is the State Herbarium in Perth, Western Australia, Western Australia. It is part of the State government's Department of Environment and Conservation, and has responsibility for the description and documentation of the flora of Western Australia.The Herbarium is...
. During this time he also wrote about botanical topics in the local Western Australian media including Our Rural Magazine
Our Rural Magazine
Our Rural Magazine was a monthly magazine produced for school children who were located in isolated circumstances, between 1926 and 1946 - by the Education Department of Western Australia...
.
He travelled widely and published around 320 papers, the most important of which were in which were Contributions to the Flora of Western Australia in Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia (from 1923), Enumeratio Plantarum Australiae Occidentalis (1930) and Flora of Western Australia Volume 1, Part 1, Gramineae (1952). He described eight genera and about 200 new species. In 1937 he became the first Australian Botanical Liaison Officer
Australian Botanical Liaison Officer
Australian Botanical Liaison Officer is a secondment position, held for up to twelve months by an Australian botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, England in the United Kingdom. The position was created in 1937, and the first ABLO was Charles Gardner...
at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
.
He was awarded the Medal of the Royal Society of Western Australia
Royal Society of Western Australia
The Royal Society of Western Australia promotes science in Western Australia.The RSWA was founded in 1914. It publishes the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, and has awarded the Medal of the Royal Society of Western Australia on an occasional basis since 1924.-External links:**...
in 1949.
He retired in 1962, and died from diabetes at Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated to the north west of Kings Park. Its Local Government Area is the City of Subiaco.-History:Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar Indigenous people....
on 24 February 1970, aged 74. His personal botanical collection was bequeathed to the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Community at New Norcia
New Norcia, Western Australia
New Norcia is a town in Western Australia, north of Perth, along the Great Northern Highway. It is situated next to the banks of the Moore River, in the Shire of Victoria Plains.New Norcia is the only monastic town in Australia...
, but was transferred to the State Herbarium in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in June 1970.
Publications
- (with H.W. BennettsHarold William BennettsHarold William Bennetts CBE was a Veterinary surgeon known for his ground-breaking research into diseases and pathogens of livestock, especially the toxic effects of some native Australian plants.Born in Carlton, Victoria...
), (1956) The Toxic Plants of Western Australia, Perth, West Australian Newspapers.
Further reading
- (1996) Description of botanist's work (Gardner, C. A.) Wildflower Society of Western AustraliaWildflower Society of Western AustraliaThe Wildflower Society of Western Australia is a member of the Australian Native Plants Society . In each of the other states of Australia, there is a region of the ANPS and they share many of the aims of the WSWA .-Objects:The Objects of the WSWA as outlined in its Constitution are: To...
newsletter, Vol 34, no. 4, p.15-18