Cyril Tenison White
Encyclopedia
Cyril Tenison White (17 August 1890 – 15 August 1950) was an Australia
n botanist.
White was born in Brisbane
to Henry White, a trade broker
, and Louisa nee Bailey. He attended school at South Brisbane State School, and was appointed pupil-assistant to the Colonial Botanist of Queensland in 1905, a position previously held by his grandfather on his father's side, Frederick Manson Bailey
. White also succeeded his uncle, John Frederick Bailey, in becoming Queensland's Government Botanist in 1917.
As the Government Botanist, White aided farmers and naturalists in identifying noxious weeds and evaluating native species for pasture
s and fodder
. Between 1915 and 1926, he worked on a 42-part series on weeds which appeared in Queensland Agricultural Journal. His books, An Elementary Textbook of Australian Forest Botany (1922) and Principles of Botany for Queensland Farmers (1938) were used as the textbooks for courses in forestry that he held at University of Queensland
. In 1921–1927, he authored a 41-part series on Queensland trees. Also, he co-wrote a 12-part, illustrated series on eucalyptuses with William D. Francis
which appeared in Queensland Naturalist in 1924–1934.
He collected a number of species from Queensland, neighbouring states
, New Guinea
, and New Caledonia
. These helped to build up the Queensland Herbarium
, where he insisted on keeping full data on distribution of all catalogued species.
White was mainly interested in woody species and was an authority on tropical species. He was a correspondent of Harvard University
's Arnold Arboretum, and published a monograph of North Queensland
rainforest
species in its journal Contributions from the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. In 1944, he instructed Australian Army
forestry companies in New Guinea, and conducted surveys of forests of the British Solomon Islands in 1945. He very much enjoyed bushwalking and camping, leading several excursions of the Queensland Naturalists' Club.
He was active in a number of horticultural and geographical societies, including the Royal Society of Queensland
. He liked to encourage young researchers to continue their studies, and was affectionately known among them as "C.T." for his enthusiasm and sociability.
White married Henrietta Duncan Clark, a field naturalist and avid hiker, in South Brisbane on 1921-10-21. They married in Baptist
tradition.
He died, just shy of his 60th birthday, from heart disease
at his home in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Australia. He was cremated. White was survived by his wife and two daughters.
in 1948. From 1951, Queensland Naturalists' Club has held an annual C. T. White Memorial Lecture in his honour.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n botanist.
White was born in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
to Henry White, a trade broker
Broker
A broker is a party that arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller, and gets a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal...
, and Louisa nee Bailey. He attended school at South Brisbane State School, and was appointed pupil-assistant to the Colonial Botanist of Queensland in 1905, a position previously held by his grandfather on his father's side, Frederick Manson Bailey
Frederick Manson Bailey
Frederick Manson Bailey CMG was a botanist active in Australia, who made valuable contributions to the characterisation of the flora of Queensland.-Early life:...
. White also succeeded his uncle, John Frederick Bailey, in becoming Queensland's Government Botanist in 1917.
As the Government Botanist, White aided farmers and naturalists in identifying noxious weeds and evaluating native species for pasture
Pasture
Pasture is land used for grazing. Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as horses, cattle, sheep or swine. The vegetation of tended pasture, forage, consists mainly of grasses, with an interspersion of legumes and other forbs...
s and fodder
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
. Between 1915 and 1926, he worked on a 42-part series on weeds which appeared in Queensland Agricultural Journal. His books, An Elementary Textbook of Australian Forest Botany (1922) and Principles of Botany for Queensland Farmers (1938) were used as the textbooks for courses in forestry that he held at University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
. In 1921–1927, he authored a 41-part series on Queensland trees. Also, he co-wrote a 12-part, illustrated series on eucalyptuses with William D. Francis
William D. Francis
William Douglas Francis was a notable Australian botanist. Born in Bega, New South Wales, at the age of 17 he moved with his father Alfred, and brother Frederick, from Wollongong, New South Wales, where he attended Wollongong Superior Public School, to Kin Kin, Queensland...
which appeared in Queensland Naturalist in 1924–1934.
He collected a number of species from Queensland, neighbouring states
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, and New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
. These helped to build up the Queensland Herbarium
Queensland Herbarium
The Queensland Herbarium is situated at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is part of Queensland’s Environmental Protection Agency...
, where he insisted on keeping full data on distribution of all catalogued species.
White was mainly interested in woody species and was an authority on tropical species. He was a correspondent of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Arnold Arboretum, and published a monograph of North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
species in its journal Contributions from the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. In 1944, he instructed Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
forestry companies in New Guinea, and conducted surveys of forests of the British Solomon Islands in 1945. He very much enjoyed bushwalking and camping, leading several excursions of the Queensland Naturalists' Club.
He was active in a number of horticultural and geographical societies, including the Royal Society of Queensland
Royal Society of Queensland
The Royal Society of Queensland was formed in Queensland, Australia in 1884, with royal patronage granted in 1885.The aim of the Society is "Increasing awareness of natural sciences in Queensland"....
. He liked to encourage young researchers to continue their studies, and was affectionately known among them as "C.T." for his enthusiasm and sociability.
White married Henrietta Duncan Clark, a field naturalist and avid hiker, in South Brisbane on 1921-10-21. They married in Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
tradition.
He died, just shy of his 60th birthday, from heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
at his home in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Australia. He was cremated. White was survived by his wife and two daughters.
Awards & distinctions
In 1946, White was awarded the Mueller Medal for his important contributions to Australian botanical science. University of Queensland awarded him an honorary M.Sc.Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in 1948. From 1951, Queensland Naturalists' Club has held an annual C. T. White Memorial Lecture in his honour.