R. W. G. Dennis
Encyclopedia
Richard William George Dennis, Ph.D.
(13 July 1910 - 7 June 2003), was an English
mycologist
and plant pathologist.
, Gloucestershire
, the son of a schoolmaster. He was educated at Thornbury Grammar School and Bristol University, where he studied geology
and botany
, writing a thesis on canker disease of willow. In 1930, he obtained a post in the Plant Husbandry Department of the West of Scotland Agricultural College in Glasgow
, where he studied diseases of oats
. This became the subject of his PhD
from Glasgow University in 1934.
, head of mycology at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
. On her retirement in 1951, R.W.G. Dennis took over her position and remained at Kew till his own retirement in 1975.
His early publications reflected his work as a plant pathologist, but at Kew he developed an interest and expertise in fungal taxonomy
, with particular reference to the Ascomycetes. His research resulted in a series of papers, culminating in the publication of British cup fungi and their allies in 1960, subsequently revised and expanded as British Ascomycetes. He also undertook a checklist of the British Basidiomycetes with agaric
ologist A.A. Pearson
, published in 1948. A new and much revised, critical checklist, with P. D. Orton and F. B. Hora, followed in 1960.
In 1949, Dennis had the opportunity to visit and collect fungi in Trinidad
and Jamaica
and in 1958 he collected in Venezuela
. These field trips produced a number of significant papers, leading up to the Fungus flora of Venezuela and adjacent countries, a substantial reference work that remains a standard text today.
He had long been interested in the Hebrides
(and their fungi) and was able to pursue his love of the islands with a series of field trips after his retirement. These gave rise to a series of papers, followed by a comprehensive checklist, Fungi of the Hebrides, in 1986. He continued to work at Kew as an Honorary Research Fellow, publishing his last paper in 1999.
Altogether, R.W.G. Dennis published over 200 books and papers between 1931 and 1999, describing a substantial number of new fungal species. The genera Dennisiella
Bat. & Cif., Dennisiodiscus
Svrcek, Dennisiomyces
Singer, Dennisiopsis
Subram. & Chandrash., and Dennisographium Rifai are named after him, as are no fewer than 40 fungal species.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(13 July 1910 - 7 June 2003), was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
mycologist
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
and plant pathologist.
Background and education
Dennis was born in ThornburyThornbury, South Gloucestershire
Thornbury is a market town in South Gloucestershire, England, approximately 12 miles north of the city of Bristol, with a population of 12,342 at the 2001 UK census. The town hosts South Gloucestershire Council headquarters and is twinned with Bockenem in Germany. Thornbury is a Britain in Bloom...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, the son of a schoolmaster. He was educated at Thornbury Grammar School and Bristol University, where he studied geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, writing a thesis on canker disease of willow. In 1930, he obtained a post in the Plant Husbandry Department of the West of Scotland Agricultural College in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, where he studied diseases of oats
OATS
OATS - Open Source Assistive Technology Software - is a source code repository or "forge" for assistive technology software. It was launched in 2006 with the goal to provide a one-stop “shop” for end users, clinicians and open-source developers to promote and develop open source assistive...
. This became the subject of his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from Glasgow University in 1934.
Career and travels
In 1939, Dr Dennis secured a post as Assistant Plant Pathologist at the Department of Agriculture, Edinburgh. He returned to England in 1944 and became assistant to Elsie Maud WakefieldElsie Maud Wakefield
Elsie Maud Wakefield was an English mycologist and plant pathologist.-Background and education:Miss Wakefield was born in Birmingham, the daughter of a science teacher...
, head of mycology at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
. On her retirement in 1951, R.W.G. Dennis took over her position and remained at Kew till his own retirement in 1975.
His early publications reflected his work as a plant pathologist, but at Kew he developed an interest and expertise in fungal taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
, with particular reference to the Ascomycetes. His research resulted in a series of papers, culminating in the publication of British cup fungi and their allies in 1960, subsequently revised and expanded as British Ascomycetes. He also undertook a checklist of the British Basidiomycetes with agaric
Agaric
An agaric is a type of fungal fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus that is clearly differentiated from the stipe , with lamellae on the underside of the pileus. "Agaric" can also refer to a basidiomycete species characterized by an agaric-type fruiting body...
ologist A.A. Pearson
A.A. Pearson
Arthur Anselm Pearson was an English mycologist.- Background and career :Arthur Anselm Pearson was born in London, but educated in Belgium. After leaving school he worked as a seaman before joining the firm of British Belting & Asbestos Ltd in Yorkshire, where he spent the rest of his working...
, published in 1948. A new and much revised, critical checklist, with P. D. Orton and F. B. Hora, followed in 1960.
In 1949, Dennis had the opportunity to visit and collect fungi in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
and Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and in 1958 he collected in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. These field trips produced a number of significant papers, leading up to the Fungus flora of Venezuela and adjacent countries, a substantial reference work that remains a standard text today.
He had long been interested in the Hebrides
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
(and their fungi) and was able to pursue his love of the islands with a series of field trips after his retirement. These gave rise to a series of papers, followed by a comprehensive checklist, Fungi of the Hebrides, in 1986. He continued to work at Kew as an Honorary Research Fellow, publishing his last paper in 1999.
Altogether, R.W.G. Dennis published over 200 books and papers between 1931 and 1999, describing a substantial number of new fungal species. The genera Dennisiella
Dennisiella
Dennisiella is a genus of fungi within the Coccodiniaceae family.-External links:* at Index Fungorum...
Bat. & Cif., Dennisiodiscus
Dennisiodiscus
Dennisiodiscus is a genus of fungi in the Dermateaceae family. The genus contains 10 species.- External links :* at Index Fungorum...
Svrcek, Dennisiomyces
Dennisiomyces
Dennisiomyces is a genus of fungi in the Tricholomataceae family. The genus contains five species found in South America....
Singer, Dennisiopsis
Dennisiopsis
Dennisiopsis is a genus of fungi in the Thelebolaceae family.-External links:*...
Subram. & Chandrash., and Dennisographium Rifai are named after him, as are no fewer than 40 fungal species.
Selected publications
- Dennis, R.W.G., Orton, P.D., & Hora, F.B. (1960). New checklist of British agarics and boleti. Supplement to Transactions of the British Mycological Society
- Dennis, R.W.G. (1970). Fungus flora of Venezuela and adjacent countries. London: HMSO
- Dennis, R.W.G. (1978) British Ascomycetes. Vaduz: J.Cramer
- Dennis, R.W.G. (1986) Fungi of the Hebrides. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens
- Dennis, R.W.G. (1995) Fungi of South East England. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens
- Wakefield, E.M. & Dennis, R.W G. (1950). Common British Fungi. London: Gawthorn