David Mabberley
Encyclopedia
Professor Dr. David John Mabberley, (born 1948), is a botanist, educator and writer. Among his varied interests is the taxonomy
of tropical plants, especially trees of the families Labiatae, Meliaceae
and Rutaceae
. He is perhaps best known for his plant dictionary The plant-book. A portable dictionary of the vascular plants. The third edition was published in 2008 as Mabberley's Plant-book, for which he was awarded the Engler
Medal in Silver in 2009.
, Cirencester, then an open scholarship to St Catherine's College, Oxford
, where he graduated B.A. in 1970 and M.A. in 1974. Although he intended to work for a doctorate under the cytologist C.D. Darlington he was inspired to move to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
under the supervision of E.J.H. Corner, leading to a Ph.D. in 1973 and D.Phil.(Oxon) in 1975. Mabberley became a post-doctorate at St John's College, Oxford
before being appointed to a fellowship at Wadham College (linked to a university lectureship in the Department of Botany, later Plant Sciences, where he set up the "Mablab" with graduate students and post-doctorates from around the world). He served as Dean of Wadham College for many years and was senior proctor at Oxford for 1988–1989, later becoming Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria. He has also served in various capacities at numerous universities around the world, including University of Paris
(France), University of Leiden (the Netherlands), University of Peradeniya
(Sri Lanka), and the University of Western Sydney
(New South Wales, Australia).
Mabberley moved to Australia late in 1996 and ran his own business there, one contract being as CEO of Greening Australia (NSW). In 2004 he was appointed to the Orin and Althea Soest Chair in Horticultural Science at the University of Washington
, Seattle, US. During his tenure there, he oversaw the union of the Washington Park Arboretum, Center for Urban Horticulture, Union Bay Natural Area, Elisabeth C. Miller Library and Otis Douglas Hyde Herbarium as the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, of which he was the founding director. In March 2008 he took up the newly-created position of Keeper of the Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
.
Mabberley is known as a world traveller, having performed fieldwork in many countries over several decades: Kenya (1969, 1970–71), Uganda (1970–71), Tanzania (1971–72), Madagascar (1971), Malaysia, Singapore & Indonesia (1974, 1981), Papua New Guinea (1974, 1989), Seychelles (1978), Panamá (1978–79), Portugal (1984–96), New Caledonia (1984), New Zealand (1990), Sri Lanka (1991), Hawai’i (1998), Cape York, Australia (Royal Geographical Society of Queensland expedition, 2002), Malaysia (2003, 2007), Vietnam (2005), China (2006, 2008).
During research for his Ph.D. dissertation, he travelled widely and collected plants throughout eastern Africa and Madagascar (1970-2), making particularly significant pioneering collections in the Ukaguru Mountains (Tanzania), where he discoved at least ten new species of plants (and one new snail species) restricted to that range. These include a giant lobelia (Lobelia sancta (Campanulaceae)), a (hairy) balsam (Impatiens ukagurensis (Balsaminaceae)), and Senecio mabberleyi (Compositae), named after him (he is also commemorated in Homalomena davidiana (Araceae) from New Guinea).
In April 2011, it was announced that from August 2011 Mabberley has been appointed executive director of the New South Wales Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust
in Sydney, Australia. In this capacity he will be responsible for the management of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden and Domain, The National Herbarium of New South Wales, The Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan near Camden
and The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah
. His Archive, especially that relating to The Plant-book is housed at the National Botanic Garden of Wales
, of which he was a Trustee 2008-2011.
Award (by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists
"to a plant systematist who has made successful efforts to popularize botany to non-scientists"), both in 2004.
In 1993 he was elected President of the Society for the History of Natural History
. In 2005 he was elected President of the IAPT
. In 2008 he was awarded the Linnean Medal
of the Linnean Society.
Alpha taxonomy
Alpha taxonomy is the discipline concerned with finding, describing and naming species of living or fossil organisms. This field is supported by institutions holding collections of these organisms, with relevant data, carefully curated: such institutes include natural history museums, herbaria and...
of tropical plants, especially trees of the families Labiatae, Meliaceae
Meliaceae
The Meliaceae, or the Mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs in the order Sapindales....
and Rutaceae
Rutaceae
Rutaceae, commonly known as the rue or citrus family, is a family of flowering plants, usually placed in the order Sapindales.Species of the family generally have flowers that divide into four or five parts, usually with strong scents...
. He is perhaps best known for his plant dictionary The plant-book. A portable dictionary of the vascular plants. The third edition was published in 2008 as Mabberley's Plant-book, for which he was awarded the Engler
Adolf Engler
Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler was a German botanist. He is notable for his work on plant taxonomy and phytogeography, like Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien , edited with Karl A. E...
Medal in Silver in 2009.
Biography
Born in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England, Mabberley won a scholarship to Rendcomb CollegeRendcomb College
Rendcomb College is a co-educational boarding and day school for 3 to 18-year-olds, located in the village of Rendcomb five miles north of Cirencester in Gloucestershire, England. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
, Cirencester, then an open scholarship to St Catherine's College, Oxford
St Catherine's College, Oxford
St Catherine's College, often called Catz, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its motto is Nova et Vetera...
, where he graduated B.A. in 1970 and M.A. in 1974. Although he intended to work for a doctorate under the cytologist C.D. Darlington he was inspired to move to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
under the supervision of E.J.H. Corner, leading to a Ph.D. in 1973 and D.Phil.(Oxon) in 1975. Mabberley became a post-doctorate at St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
before being appointed to a fellowship at Wadham College (linked to a university lectureship in the Department of Botany, later Plant Sciences, where he set up the "Mablab" with graduate students and post-doctorates from around the world). He served as Dean of Wadham College for many years and was senior proctor at Oxford for 1988–1989, later becoming Curator of the Oxford University Herbaria. He has also served in various capacities at numerous universities around the world, including University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
(France), University of Leiden (the Netherlands), University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
The University of Peradeniya is a world renowned state university in Sri Lanka, funded by the University Grants Commission...
(Sri Lanka), and the University of Western Sydney
University of Western Sydney
The University of Western Sydney, also known as UWS, is a multi-campus university in the Greater Western region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
(New South Wales, Australia).
Mabberley moved to Australia late in 1996 and ran his own business there, one contract being as CEO of Greening Australia (NSW). In 2004 he was appointed to the Orin and Althea Soest Chair in Horticultural Science at 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...
, Seattle, US. During his tenure there, he oversaw the union of the Washington Park Arboretum, Center for Urban Horticulture, Union Bay Natural Area, Elisabeth C. Miller Library and Otis Douglas Hyde Herbarium as the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, of which he was the founding director. In March 2008 he took up the newly-created position of Keeper of the Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives 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...
.
Mabberley is known as a world traveller, having performed fieldwork in many countries over several decades: Kenya (1969, 1970–71), Uganda (1970–71), Tanzania (1971–72), Madagascar (1971), Malaysia, Singapore & Indonesia (1974, 1981), Papua New Guinea (1974, 1989), Seychelles (1978), Panamá (1978–79), Portugal (1984–96), New Caledonia (1984), New Zealand (1990), Sri Lanka (1991), Hawai’i (1998), Cape York, Australia (Royal Geographical Society of Queensland expedition, 2002), Malaysia (2003, 2007), Vietnam (2005), China (2006, 2008).
During research for his Ph.D. dissertation, he travelled widely and collected plants throughout eastern Africa and Madagascar (1970-2), making particularly significant pioneering collections in the Ukaguru Mountains (Tanzania), where he discoved at least ten new species of plants (and one new snail species) restricted to that range. These include a giant lobelia (Lobelia sancta (Campanulaceae)), a (hairy) balsam (Impatiens ukagurensis (Balsaminaceae)), and Senecio mabberleyi (Compositae), named after him (he is also commemorated in Homalomena davidiana (Araceae) from New Guinea).
In April 2011, it was announced that from August 2011 Mabberley has been appointed executive director of the New South Wales Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, are the most central of the three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney....
in Sydney, Australia. In this capacity he will be responsible for the management of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden and Domain, The National Herbarium of New South Wales, The Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan near Camden
Mount Annan, New South Wales
Mount Annan is a suburb of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mount Annan is located 60 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Camden Council and is part of the Macarthur region.-History:...
and The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah
Mount Tomah Botanic Garden
Mount Tomah Botanic Garden is a 28 hectare public garden approximately 100 km west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains, established in 1972. There is an additional 128 hectares of land dedicated to conservation. The garden is 1000 m above sea level, and it specializes in cool-climate plants that would...
. His Archive, especially that relating to The Plant-book is housed at the National Botanic Garden of Wales
National Botanic Garden of Wales
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is situated near Llanarthney in the Towy Valley, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The garden is both a visitor attraction and a centre for botanical research and conservation, and features the world's largest single-span glasshouse measuring long by wide.NBGW seeks...
, of which he was a Trustee 2008-2011.
Honours and Awards
Among the awards he has received are the José Cuatrecasas Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany and the Peter RavenPeter H. Raven
Peter Hamilton Raven is a botanist and environmentalist, notable as the longtime director, now President Emeritus, of the Missouri Botanical Garden.-Early life:...
Award (by the American Society of Plant Taxonomists
American Society of Plant Taxonomists
The American Society of Plant Taxonomists is a botanical organization formed in 1935 to "foster, encourage, and promote education and research in the field of plant taxonomy, to include those areas and fields of study that contribute to and bear upon taxonomy and herbaria", according to its bylaws...
"to a plant systematist who has made successful efforts to popularize botany to non-scientists"), both in 2004.
In 1993 he was elected President of the Society for the History of Natural History
Society for the History of Natural History
The Society for the History of Natural History is a friendly international society for everyone who is interested in natural history in the broadest sense. This includes botany, zoology and geology as well as natural history collections, exploration, art and bibliography. Everyone with an...
. In 2005 he was elected President of the IAPT
International Association for Plant Taxonomy
The International Association for Plant Taxonomy promotes an understanding of plant biodiversity, facilitates international communication of research between botanists, and oversees matters of uniformity and stability in plant names . The IAPT was founded on July 18, 1950 at the Seventh...
. In 2008 he was awarded the Linnean Medal
Linnean Medal
The Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888, and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist or a zoologist or to one of each in the same year...
of the Linnean Society.
Published Books
- Mabberley's plant-book. A portable dictionary of plants, their classifications and uses, third edition. Mabberley, D.J. 2008. Cambridge University Press.
- The story of the apple. Juniper, B.E., and D.J. Mabberley. 2006. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, US & Cambridge, UK.
- Arthur Harry Church: the anatomy of flowers. D.J. Mabberley. 2000. Merrell & The Natural History Museum, London.
- Ferdinand Bauer: the nature of discovery. D.J. Mabberley. 1999. Merrell Holberton & The Natural History Museum, London.
- Paradisus: Hawaiian plant watercolors by Geraldine King Tam. D.J. Mabberley. 1999 [‘1998’]). Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawai'i, US.
- The Flora Graeca Story. Sibthorp, Bauer and Hawkins in the Levant.Lack, H.W., and D.J. Mabberley. 1998 [‘1999’]. Oxford University Press.
- An exquisite eye: The Australian flora and fauna drawings 1801-1820 of Ferdinand Bauer. Watts, P., J.A. Pomfret, and D.J. Mabberley. 1997. Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales. Glebe, New South Wales, Australia.
- The plant-book. A portable dictionary of the vascular plants, second edition. Mabberley, D.J. 1997. Cambridge University Press, UK.
- Meliaceae. In: Foundation Flora Malesiana (Editor). Flora Malesiana, Series 1, Volume 12. Mabberley, D.J., Pannell, C.M. & Sing, A.M., 1995. Rijksherbarium/Hortus Botanicus, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands.
- Algarve plants and landscape. Passing tradition and ecological change. Mabberley, D.J., and P.J. Placito. 1993. Oxford University Press.
- Tropical rain forest ecology, second edition. Mabberley, D.J. 1991. Blackie, Glasgow.
- The plant-book. A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Mabberley, D.J. 1987. Cambridge University Press.
- Jupiter botanicus. Robert Brown of the British Museum. Mabberley, D.J. 1985. Cramer, Braunschweig & British Museum (Natural History), London.
- Tropical rain forest ecology. Mabberley, D.J. 1983. Blackie, Glasgow.
- Revolutionary botany. Thalassiophyta and other essays of A.H. Church. Mabberley, D.J. (Ed.) 1981. Clarendon, Oxford.
- Tropical botany. Essays presented to E.J.H. Corner for his seventieth birthday. Mabberley, D.J., and C.K. Lan (Eds.). 1977. Botanic Gardens, Singapore.