Charles Piper
Encyclopedia
Charles Vancouver Piper was an American botanist and agriculturalist. Born in Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada
, he spent his youth in Seattle, Washington Territory
and graduated from the University of Washington
Territory in 1885. He taught botany and zoology
in 1892 at the Washington Agricultural College (now Washington State University
) in Pullman
. He earned a Masters degree in botany in 1900 from Harvard University
.
Piper compiled the first authoritative guides to flora
in the northwestern United States. With his collaborator, R. Kent Beattie, he surveyed the Palouse
area of southeastern Washington, and expanded the study to the entire state in 1906. That year, The Smithsonian Institution
published his catalog Flora of the State of Washington. He also published Flora of Southeast Washington and Adjacent Idaho and Flora of the Northwest Coast (1915). These works established him as an authority on the plants of the northwestern U.S.
In 1903, Piper began a career at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.
, which lasted until his death there. He worked on the domestication and introduction of grass
es. On a trip to Africa, he found Sudan grass
and introduced it to North America as a forage
plant (vegetable matter eaten by livestock
). Piper noted that much less study had been made of forage crops as compared to cotton
, cereals, and other crops. He attributed this to the lack of economic incentive in studying forage plants.
The soybean
was another subject of Piper's studies. In 1923, he published The Soybean, a thorough monograph of the species. The botanist was instrumental in establishing this plant as a successful crop in the U.S. It became a fundamental part of U.S. agriculture.
He was a founding member of the American Society of Agronomy
in 1907 and served later as its president. Piper's knowledge of grasses led him to become Chairman of the United States Golf Association
's Green Section from 1920 until his death.
The orchid
genus
Piperia
, containing eight species (e.g., Piperia yadonii
), is named after him.
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, he spent his youth in Seattle, Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
and graduated from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
Territory in 1885. He taught botany and zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
in 1892 at the Washington Agricultural College (now Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
) in Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
. He earned a Masters degree in botany in 1900 from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Piper compiled the first authoritative guides to flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
in the northwestern United States. With his collaborator, R. Kent Beattie, he surveyed the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
area of southeastern Washington, and expanded the study to the entire state in 1906. That year, The Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
published his catalog Flora of the State of Washington. He also published Flora of Southeast Washington and Adjacent Idaho and Flora of the Northwest Coast (1915). These works established him as an authority on the plants of the northwestern U.S.
In 1903, Piper began a career at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, which lasted until his death there. He worked on the domestication and introduction of grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es. On a trip to Africa, he found Sudan grass
Sudan grass
Sudan grass, , is a species of grass raised for forage and grain, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Eastern Africa. The plant is cultivated in Southern Europe, South America, Central America, North America and Southern Asia, for forage or as a cover crop.It is distinguished from the...
and introduced it to North America as a forage
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
plant (vegetable matter eaten by livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
). Piper noted that much less study had been made of forage crops as compared to cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, cereals, and other crops. He attributed this to the lack of economic incentive in studying forage plants.
The soybean
Soybean
The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...
was another subject of Piper's studies. In 1923, he published The Soybean, a thorough monograph of the species. The botanist was instrumental in establishing this plant as a successful crop in the U.S. It became a fundamental part of U.S. agriculture.
He was a founding member of the American Society of Agronomy
American Society of Agronomy
The American Society of Agronomy is a scientific and professional society of agronomists and scientists of related disciplines, principally in the United States but with a large number of non-U.S. members as well...
in 1907 and served later as its president. Piper's knowledge of grasses led him to become Chairman of the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
's Green Section from 1920 until his death.
The orchid
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Piperia
Piperia
Piperia is a genus of the orchid family Orchidaceae. These plants are known as rein orchids. They are native to western North America, especially California and the Pacific Northwest...
, containing eight species (e.g., Piperia yadonii
Piperia yadonii
Piperia yadonii, also known as Yadon's Piperia or Yadon's rein orchid, is an endangered orchid endemic to a narrow range of coastal habitat in northern Monterey County, California...
), is named after him.