Henry Eamonn Connor (4 August 1922 – 26 July 2016) was a New Zealand

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

and science administrator. He was an expert on New Zealand poisonous plants and the

taxonomy Taxonomy is the practice and science of categorization or classification. A taxonomy (or taxonomical classification) is a scheme of classification, especially a hierarchical classification, in which things are organized into groups or types. ...

and

reproductive biology Reproductive biology includes both sexual and asexual reproduction. Reproductive biology includes a wide number of fields: * Reproductive systems * Endocrinology * Sexual development (Puberty) * Sexual maturity * Reproduction * Fertility Human ...

of New Zealand grasses, and served as the director of the Botany Division of the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Biography

Born in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by ...

on 4 August 1922, Connor was the son of James Connor and Margaret Edith Connor (née Byrne). He was educated at

St Patrick's College, Wellington St Patrick's College is a Roman Catholic boys' secondary school in New Zealand. History Founded by Archbishop Francis Redwood SM, St Patrick's opened on 1 June 1885 with nine day-boys and twelve boarders. The College represents one of the e ...

, and then studied at

Victoria University College Victoria University of Wellington ( mi, Te Herenga Waka) is a university in Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. It was established in 1897 by Act of New Zealand Parliament, Parliament, and was a constituent college of the University of New Z ...

, graduating

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University o ...

in 1948 and

Master of Science A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast t ...

with first-class honours in 1950. In his early scientific career, he catalogued plants that were dangerous to livestock, leading to the publication of the book, ''The Poisonous Plants in New Zealand'', in 1951, and an expanded edition in 1977, which is regarded as the canonical text on the subject. However, his major body of research was concerned with the taxonomy and reproductive biology of New Zealand grasses. Working at the

Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, abbreviated DSIR was the name of several British Empire organisations founded after the 1923 Imperial Conference to foster intra-Empire trade and development. * Department of Scientific and Industria ...

(DSIR) for 40 years, Connor rose to become director of the Botany Division. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science by Lincoln College in 1978 on the basis of papers submitted. Following his retirement from the DSIR in 1982, Connor continued working at the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was ...

as an honorary fellow. He was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of New Zealand Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a c ...

in 1983. Connor served on various statutory authorities, including the North Canterbury Nasella Tussock Board, the North Canterbury Catchment Board and the Mount Cook National Park Board. In 2000, Connor was awarded the

Hutton Medal The Hutton Medal is awarded annually by the Royal Society Te Apārangi to a researcher who, working within New Zealand, has significantly advanced understanding through work of outstanding scientific or technological merit. Requirements Prior ...

of the

jointly with

Elizabeth Edgar Elizabeth Edgar (27 December 1929 – 1 January 2019) was a New Zealand botanist, best known for her work in authoring and editing three of the five volumes of the series ''Flora of New Zealand'', which describes and classifies the species of ...

for their contributions to the documentation and botanical classification of New Zealand flora. Together they authored the final volume, volume 5, of the series ''Flora of New Zealand'' devoted to grasses, which was published in 2000. Connor was appointed a

Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those ...

in the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours for services to botany. He died in Christchurch on 26 July 2016, and his ashes were buried at Waimari Cemetery.

Taxonomist

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Connor, Henry 20th-century New Zealand botanists New Zealand taxonomists 1922 births 2016 deaths Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit People associated with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand) People from Wellington City People educated at St. Patrick's College, Wellington Lincoln University (New Zealand) alumni Victoria University of Wellington alumni Burials at Waimairi Cemetery 21st-century New Zealand botanists