Helena M. L. Forbes | |
---|---|
Born | Forfar, Scotland | 11 September 1900
Died | 5 September 1959 South Africa | (aged 58)
Occupation | Botanist |
Years active | 1919–1955 |
Employer | Natal Herbarium |
Helena M. L. Forbes (11 September 1900 – 5 September 1959) was a Scottish botanist, plant collector and curator who worked primarily on South African flora.
Helena Madelain Lamond Forbes was born on 11 September 1900 in Forfar, Scotland. [1] When she was a young child, her parents emigrated to Durban and Forbes childhood was spent there. [1] On 1 July 1919 she joined Natal Herbarium in Durban as a Junior Assistant in the Botany Division. [2] She became responsible for herbarium maintenance and plant identification. [3] From 1936–37 she worked at Kew Gardens as the South African Liaison Officer. [4] She subsequently returned to South Africa, where she joined the National Herbarium in Pretoria in 1938. [1] In 1940 she returned to Natal Herbarium as Curator and stayed in post until her retirement on 10 September 1955. [1] [2] At her retirement she was described as "a stalwart that kept botanical wheels turning at the herbarium". [3] She suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and died on 5 September 1959. [2]
Forbes was recognised as an authority on the flora of the Natal and, whilst she did not publish widely, she did contribute major revisions of two genera: Psoralea and Tephrosia. [1] Work on Psoralea had begun as early in her career as 1923 and in 1934 she began her work on Tephrosia. [3] During her lifetime she published thirty-two plant names, [5] some of which include: the taxon Ophrestia; [6] Kalanchoe albiflora. [7] During her time at the Natal Herbarium she contributed 1400 specimens to the collection, most of which were from the region. [4] Early in her career she worked on the genus Cassia, as well as flora from Isipingo. [3]
The Indian Ocean alga Beckerella helenae is named after Forbes. [8]
The standard author abbreviation H.M.L.Forbes is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name. [11]