Wilbur Howard Duncan
Encyclopedia
Wilbur Howard Duncan was a botany
professor at the University of Georgia
for 40 years where he oversaw an expansion in the school's herbarium
collection and described three new plant species. Duncan also authored several books on plant species of the Eastern
and Southeastern United States
.
, New York
, on October 15, 1910. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees, in 1932 and 1933, from Indiana University
, then his Ph.D.
in botany
from Duke University
in 1938. He then began a forty-year period in the faculty at the University of Georgia
.
As Curator of the UGA Herbarium, he increased the collection size from 16,000 to 135,000 specimens. He personally collected over thirty thousand specimens, which he shared with herbaria
across the country.
During World War II
, Duncan served in the United States Public Health Service
, in which he earned the rank of Major. His duties during this period included directing mosquito control
for Charleston, South Carolina
and serving as state entomologist
for Kentucky
.
Duncan was married for 64 years (from 1941 until his death) to botanist Marion Bennett Duncan, with whom he collaborated on several books, including Wildflowers of the Eastern United States.
who first described three plant species: Quercus oglethorpensis
, Trillium persistens, and Baptisia arachnifera
. All of these species are endangered
.
.
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...
professor at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
for 40 years where he oversaw an expansion in the school's herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
collection and described three new plant species. Duncan also authored several books on plant species of the Eastern
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
and Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
.
Biography
Duncan was born in BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, on October 15, 1910. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees, in 1932 and 1933, from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, then his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 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 Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1938. He then began a forty-year period in the faculty at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
.
As Curator of the UGA Herbarium, he increased the collection size from 16,000 to 135,000 specimens. He personally collected over thirty thousand specimens, which he shared with herbaria
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
across the country.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Duncan served in the United States Public Health Service
United States Public Health Service
The Public Health Service Act of 1944 structured the United States Public Health Service as the primary division of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare , which later became the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The PHS comprises all Agency Divisions of Health and...
, in which he earned the rank of Major. His duties during this period included directing mosquito control
Mosquito control
Mosquito control manages the population of mosquitoes to reduce their damage to human health, economies, and enjoyment. Mosquito control is a vital public-health practice throughout the world and especially in the tropics because mosquitoes spread many diseases, such as malaria.Mosquito-control...
for Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
and serving as state entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
for Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Duncan was married for 64 years (from 1941 until his death) to botanist Marion Bennett Duncan, with whom he collaborated on several books, including Wildflowers of the Eastern United States.
Species described
Duncan is the botanical authorityAuthor citation (botany)
In botanical nomenclature, author citation refers to citing the person who validly published a botanical name, i.e. who first published the name while fulfilling the formal requirements as specified by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature...
who first described three plant species: Quercus oglethorpensis
Quercus oglethorpensis
Quercus oglethorpensis is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to the United States...
, Trillium persistens, and Baptisia arachnifera
Baptisia arachnifera
Baptisia arachnifera, commonly known as hairy rattleweed, cobwebby wild indigo, hairy wild indigo, and hairy false indigo, is an endangered species of flowering plant in the legume family. Its native habitat is limited to sandy soils in pinewoods along the coastal plain of the U.S. state of...
. All of these species are endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.
Associations and honors
Duncan was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
Partial bibliography
- Duncan, W. H. 1940. A new species of oakOakAn oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
from Georgia. Amer. Midland Naturalist 24: 755-756. - Duncan, W. H. 1944. A new species of BaptisiaBaptisiaBaptisia is a genus of about 35 plants in the legume family. One of the better known species is Blue Wild Indigo, which is native to North America and commonly grown in gardens....
. RhodoraRhodora (journal)Rhodora is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the New England Botanical Club. It is issued four times a year and was established in 1899. According to the Journal Citation Reports, its 2009 impact factor is 0.200. The editor-in-chief is Elizabeth Farnsworth .-External links:*...
46: 29-31. - Duncan, W. H. 1950. Quercus oglethorpensisQuercus oglethorpensisQuercus oglethorpensis is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to the United States...
-- range extensions and phylogenetic relationships. Lloydia 13: 243-248. - Duncan, W. H., J. F. Garst, and G. A. Neece. 1971. Trillium persistens (LiliaceaeLiliaceaeThe Liliaceae, or the lily family, is a family of monocotyledons in the order Liliales. Plants in this family have linear leaves, mostly with parallel veins but with several having net venation , and flower arranged in threes. Several have bulbs, while others have rhizomes...
), a new pedicellate-flowered species form northeastern Georgia and adjacent North Carolina. Rhodora 73: 244-248. - Duncan, W. H. 1977. A new species of GalactiaGalactiaGalactia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family . It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae. They do not have an unambiguous common name, being commonly called "beach peas" or "wild peas".-Selected species:...
(FabaceaeFabaceaeThe Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
) in the southeastern United States. Phytologia 37: 59-61. - Duncan, Wilbur H. & John T. Kartesz, Vascular Flora of Georgia: An Annotated Checklist, 1981, UGA Press
- Duncan, Wilbur H. & Marion B. Duncan, The Smithsonian Guide to Seaside Plants of the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, 140 pp, SmithsonianSmithsonian InstitutionThe 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...
, 1987, ISBN 9780874743876