Greta Stevenson
Encyclopedia
Greta Barbara Stevenson (10 June, 1911–18 December, 1990) was a New Zealand botanist
and mycologist
. She described many new species of Agaricales
(gilled mushrooms).
, New Zealand, the oldest of four children of William Stevenson and his wife Grace Mary Scott. William was the managing director of the canned food manufacture Irvine and Stevenson. The Stevenson family moved to Dunedin
in 1914, and Greta attended Columba College
from 1925 to 1928. She later went on to the University of Otago
in 1929, from which she graduated with a BSc
in 1932, and then an MSc
in botany with first-class honors in 1933. Her thesis was about the life history
of the rare parasitic Korthalsella
. After graduating she moved to London to attend the Imperial College of Science and Technology, where she completed a PhD
in mycology
and plant pathology. She married Edgar Cone in 1936, a research student in chemical engineering
, with whom she had two children. Returning to New Zealand, while her children were young she was employed with the Wellington City Council as an analyst and a soil microbiologist for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
soil bureau. During this time she also taught science at several secondary school
s. Stevenson was an avid mountaineer
, and climbed the east peak of Mount Earnslaw
, a significant accomplishment for an all-woman party.
Stevenson held several appointments: Otago University; Wellington City Council; Cawthron Institute, Nelson; Imperial College, London; Crawley College of Further Education; and King Alfred's College. Stevenson died in London on 18 December, 1990, at the age of 79.
of New Zealand, published in the Kew Bulletin
between 1962 and 1964, in which she described over 100 new species.
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...
and 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...
. She described many new species of Agaricales
Agaricales
The fungal order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms , or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of mushrooms. The order has 33 extant families, 413 genera, and over 13000 described species, along with five extinct genera known only from the fossil record...
(gilled mushrooms).
Background and education
Stevenson was born in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand, the oldest of four children of William Stevenson and his wife Grace Mary Scott. William was the managing director of the canned food manufacture Irvine and Stevenson. The Stevenson family moved to Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
in 1914, and Greta attended Columba College
Columba College
Columba College is an integrated presbyterian school in Roslyn, Dunedin, New Zealand. The roll is made up of pupils of all ages...
from 1925 to 1928. She later went on to the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
in 1929, from which she graduated with a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in 1932, and then an MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
in botany with first-class honors in 1933. Her thesis was about the life history
Biological life cycle
A life cycle is a period involving all different generations of a species succeeding each other through means of reproduction, whether through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction...
of the rare parasitic Korthalsella
Korthalsella
Korthalsella is a genus of flowering plants in the sandalwood family, Santalaceae . It contains about 25 species distributed in Asia, Africa, Australia, and some Pacific Islands.-Selected species:...
. After graduating she moved to London to attend the Imperial College of Science and Technology, where she completed a 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...
in mycology
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...
and plant pathology. She married Edgar Cone in 1936, a research student in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
, with whom she had two children. Returning to New Zealand, while her children were young she was employed with the Wellington City Council as an analyst and a soil microbiologist for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Several countries have organizations called the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, abbreviated DSIR.-United Kingdom:...
soil bureau. During this time she also taught science at several secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s. Stevenson was an avid mountaineer
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, and climbed the east peak of Mount Earnslaw
Mount Earnslaw
Mount Earnslaw, also known by its Māori name of Pikirakatahi, is a 2819 m mountain in New Zealand's South Island. It is named after Earnslaw village in the parish of...
, a significant accomplishment for an all-woman party.
Stevenson held several appointments: Otago University; Wellington City Council; Cawthron Institute, Nelson; Imperial College, London; Crawley College of Further Education; and King Alfred's College. Stevenson died in London on 18 December, 1990, at the age of 79.
Researches in mycology
Stevenson published three books on ferns and fungi, all of which were illustrated with her own drawings. She is known for her five-part series on the AgaricalesAgaricales
The fungal order Agaricales, also known as gilled mushrooms , or euagarics, contains some of the most familiar types of mushrooms. The order has 33 extant families, 413 genera, and over 13000 described species, along with five extinct genera known only from the fossil record...
of New Zealand, published in the Kew Bulletin
Kew Bulletin
Kew Bulletin is a quarterly peer-reviewed scientific journal on plant and fungal taxonomy published by Springer Science+Business Media on behalf of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was established in 1887...
between 1962 and 1964, in which she described over 100 new species.
Eponymous taxa
- Entoloma stevensoniae E.Horak (1980); a nomen novumNomen novumIn biological nomenclature, a nomen novum , new replacement name is a technical term...
for Entoloma niveum G. Stev. (1962) - Hygrocybe stevensoniae T.W.MayTom May (mycologist)Thomas William May is a mycologist and the curator of the fungal collection at the National Herbarium of Victoria where he specialises in the taxonomy and ecology of Australian macrofungi. He is most notable for the comprehensive bibliographical lists of all Australian fungi published thus far;...
& A.E.WoodAlec Wood (mycologist)Alec E. Wood is a mycologist affiliated with the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia who has published major studies, describing a large number new species, in the genera Galerina and Amanita...
(1995)
Selected works
- Stevenson, G. (1946–47). The growth of a species of the genus Lilaeopsis in fresh-water reservoirs near Wellington. (PDF) Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 76 (4):581–88.
- ___________. (1954). A Book of Ferns. New York: Henry George Fiedler. 160 pp.
- ___________. (1954). Nitrogen fixation by non-nodulated plants, and by nodulated Coriaria arborea. Nature 182 :1523–1524.
- ___________. (1962). The Agaricales of New Zealand: I. Boletaceae and Strobilomycetaceae. Kew Bulletin 15 (3): 381–85.
- ___________. (1962). The Agaricales of New Zealand: II. Kew Bulletin 16 (1): 65–74.
- ___________. (1962). The Agaricales of New Zealand: III. Kew Bulletin 16 (2): 227–37.
- ___________. (1963). The Agaricales of New Zealand: IV. Kew Bulletin 16 (3): 373–84.
- ___________. (1964). The Agaricales of New Zealand: V. Kew Bulletin 19 (1): 1–59.
- ___________. (1967). The Biology of Fungi, Bacteria and Viruses. London: Edward Arnold. 202 pp.
- ___________. (1982). Field Guide to Fungi. Canterbury: University of Canterbury. 122 pp.
- ___________. (1978). Botanical evidence linking the New Zealand Maoris with New Caledonia and the New Hebrides. Nature 276 :704–705.