Derek Reid
Encyclopedia
Derek Agutter Reid was an English
mycologist
.
, Bedfordshire
, the son of a picture-framer. He was educated at Cedars School and the University of Hull
, where he studied geology
and botany
. He gained his PhD
from the University of London
in 1964, for a thesis (later published) on stipitate stereoid fungi.
. On his retirement in 1975, Derek Reid took over his position and remained at Kew till his own retirement in 1987.
Derek Reid was a naturalist and enthusiastic field mycologist, leading regular fungus forays in his native Bedfordshire for over 40 years, as well as tutoring fungus identification courses at Field Studies Centres
, and evening classes at the University of London. He published a popular field guide to British mushrooms and toadstools in 1980. He was also able to travel far more widely than his predecessors at Kew, visiting and collecting fungi in continental Europe, the United States, the West Indies, Australia, and South Africa. His particular interest in South African fungi led to several joint papers with his fellow mycologist Prof. Albert Eicker at the University of Pretoria
. In 1989, after his retirement from Kew, Reid stayed for some while in Pretoria, as Visiting Professor at the university.
Derek Reid's main interest was in the taxonomy
of fungi, especially (but not exclusively) the Basidiomycota
. He published over 200 papers on British and overseas species, mostly on agarics but also on heterobasidiomycetes, gasteromycetes, and other macrofungi, describing many new species. Six fungal species have been named after him, including the common European waxcap Hygrocybe reidii.
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...
mycologist
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
.
Background and education
Reid was born in Leighton BuzzardLeighton Buzzard
-Lower schools:*Beaudesert Lower School - Apennine Way*Clipstone Brook Lower School - Brooklands Drive*Greenleas Lower School - Derwent Road*Dovery Down Lower School - Heath Road*Heathwood Lower School - Heath Road*Leedon Lower School - Highfield Road...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, the son of a picture-framer. He was educated at Cedars School and the University of Hull
University of Hull
The University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
, where he studied geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
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...
. He gained his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1964, for a thesis (later published) on stipitate stereoid fungi.
Mycological career and travels
In 1951, he became assistant to Dr R.W.G. Dennis, head of mycology at the Royal Botanic Gardens, KewRoyal 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...
. On his retirement in 1975, Derek Reid took over his position and remained at Kew till his own retirement in 1987.
Derek Reid was a naturalist and enthusiastic field mycologist, leading regular fungus forays in his native Bedfordshire for over 40 years, as well as tutoring fungus identification courses at Field Studies Centres
Field Studies Council
The Field Studies Council is an educational charity based in the UK. It opened its first Field Centre in 1947 at Flatford Mill, and now operates 17 Field Centres in various locations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland offering both residential and non-residential field courses...
, and evening classes at the University of London. He published a popular field guide to British mushrooms and toadstools in 1980. He was also able to travel far more widely than his predecessors at Kew, visiting and collecting fungi in continental Europe, the United States, the West Indies, Australia, and South Africa. His particular interest in South African fungi led to several joint papers with his fellow mycologist Prof. Albert Eicker at the University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
. In 1989, after his retirement from Kew, Reid stayed for some while in Pretoria, as Visiting Professor at the university.
Derek Reid's main interest was in the taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of fungi, especially (but not exclusively) the Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota
Basidiomycota is one of two large phyla that, together with the Ascomycota, comprise the subkingdom Dikarya within the Kingdom Fungi...
. He published over 200 papers on British and overseas species, mostly on agarics but also on heterobasidiomycetes, gasteromycetes, and other macrofungi, describing many new species. Six fungal species have been named after him, including the common European waxcap Hygrocybe reidii.
Selected publications
- Reid, D.A. (1955). New or interesting records of Australasian basidiomycetes. Kew Bulletin 1955: 631-648
- Reid, D.A. (1965). A monograph of the stipitate stereoid fungi. (Beihefte zur Nova Hedwigia 18) 388 pp., 50 pls
- Reid, D.A. (1974). A monograph of the British Dacrymycetales. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 62: 433-494
- Reid, D.A. (1977). Some gasteromycetes from Trinidad and Tobago. Kew Bulletin 31: 657-690
- Reid, D.A. (1980). Mushrooms and toadstools. London: Kingfisher
- Reid, D.A. (1990). New or interesting records of British heterobasidiomycetes. Mycological Research 94: 94-108
- Reid, D.A. & Eicker, A. (1991). A taxonomic survey of the genus Montagnea with special reference to South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 57: 161-170