Frederick William Humphreys (11 November 1907 – 3 September 1967) was an Australian government official and an amateur photographer and botanist whose work culminated in the posthumous publication of The Banksia Book, a book on the flowering plant genus Banksia. He discovered Banksia grossa in the Stirling Range in 1967.[1]
Frederick William Humphreys | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 November 1907 |
| Died | 3 September 1967 (aged 59) |
| Monuments |
|
| Other names | Fred |
| Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
| Occupation | Government official |
| Known for | Botany |
| Notable work | The Banksia Book |
Life and career edit
Humphreys was born in Kalgoorlie. He attended University of Western Australia, where he participated in track and running events. He graduated with a Diploma in Commerce in 1934. He took a position with the Commonwealth Public Service in Immigration and Social Services. He later returned to Western Australia as State Director of Social Services.[2]
Both Humphreys and his wife Evelyn were keen members of the Wildflower Society of Western Australia. Author Alex George said Humphreys conceived the idea of a series of popular books on plants such as Banksias, Dryandras, and Verticordias, and endeavoured to photograph every species of Banksia.[3] However, he died before he could accomplish this. His enthusiasm prompted George to finish a book on banksias, after the conclusion of his monograph "The genus Banksia L.f. (Proteaceae)".[3] Humphreys donated his slides of flowers to the Western Australian Herbarium and the Australian National Botanic Gardens.[2]
At the time of his death the Social Services Department was located in the building which bore his name, Humphreys House.[2] The F.W. Humphreys Perpetual Trophy at UWA is named in his honor.[2] American botanist Sherwin Carlquist named a triggerplant from the Great Victoria Desert, Stylidium humphreysii, in his honour in 1969.[4]
References edit
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubie (1996). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings: A Glossary. UWA Publishing. ISBN 9781875560431.
- ^ a b c d Young, Don (2001). "Fred Humphreys". UWA Athletics. University of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 9 April 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ a b George, Alex S; Gardner, Charles A (1996). 'The Banksia Book. Kangaroo Press. ISBN 9780864178183.
- ^ Sherwin Carlquist (18 April 1969). "Studies in Stylidiaceae: New Taxa, Field Observations, Evolutionary Tendencies" (PDF). Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany. 7 (1). Retrieved 15 November 2012.