Hitchcock, Albert Spear

Hitchcock, Albert Spear

▪ American botanist
born Sept. 4, 1865, Owosso, Mich., U.S.
died Dec. 16, 1935, at sea, en route from Europe to the U.S.

      U.S. botanist and specialist on the taxonomy of the world's grasses (grass) who developed the practice of using type specimens (or holotypes) for plant nomenclature.

      During his student days at Iowa State Agricultural College, Hitchcock was greatly influenced by Charles E. Bessey (Bessey, Charles E.), who was a pioneer in the study of plant morphology in the United States. After receiving his M.S. degree in 1886, he served as instructor in chemistry at Iowa State University until 1889. From 1889 to 1892 Hitchcock was curator of the herbarium at the Missouri Botanical Garden, where he proposed using the type specimen as the basis for describing a new species. He then returned to academic life as professor of botany at Kansas State Agricultural College.

      In 1901 he joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture and began his worldwide travels to collect grass samples for the National Herbarium in Washington, D.C. He increased its collection of grasses to one of the largest and most complete in the world. Using these specimens, he began in 1905 to publish a series of monographs and handbooks on the grasses of many parts of the Americas. His most important work, Manual of Grasses of the United States (1935), remains a standard reference.

      Hitchcock was also deeply concerned over the rapid disappearance of tropical forests and jungles. He was directly responsible, in his capacity as chairman (1920–26) of the executive committee of the Institute for Research in Tropical America (called the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute from 1946), for the designation of Barro Colorado Island in Panama as a permanent biological preserve.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Albert Spear Hitchcock — ( * 4 de septiembre de 1865, Owosso, Míchigan 16 de diciembre de 1935 fue un botánico y agrónomo sistemático estadounidense especializado en las herbáceas. Nace en Owosso, Michigan, realizó varias expediciones a Alaska. Fue director del… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Albert Spear Hitchcock — est un botaniste et un agronome systématicien américain spécialisé dans les herbacées, né le 4 septembre 1865 à Owosso dans le Michigan et mort le 16 décembre 1935. Né à Owosso dans le Michigan, il a grandi en Alaska. Il est… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Albert Spear Hitchcock — (* 1865 in Owasso, Michigan; † 1935, Atlantischer Ozean) war ein amerikanischer Botaniker. Sein offizielles botanisches Autorenkürzel lautet „Hitchc.“. Leben Albert Spear Hitchcock studierte am Iowa State College, wo er drei Abschlüsse ablegte.… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hitchcock — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Albert Spear Hitchcock (1865–1935), amerikanischer Botaniker Alfred Hitchcock (1899–1980), angloamerikanischer Filmregisseur und Filmproduzent Alma Hitchcock (1899–1982), angloamerikanische Drehbuchautorin …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • A. S. Hitchcock — Albert Spear Hitchcock (September 4, 1865 mdash; December 16, 1935) was an important American botanist and agrostologist. Specializing in grasses, he was the chief botanist for the USDA from 1928 until his death. He authored over 250 works during …   Wikipedia

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