American botanist and zoologist in San Diego, California. Initially working at the O'Rourke Zoological Institute in San Diego, Frank F. Gander studied the mammals and birds of the local area and published papers on the western mourning dove, mockingbirds and wood rats. Later working as curator of botany at the San Diego Museum of Natural History, he served as head of the botany department there from 1934 to 1939 when he began production work during the Second World War. While in charge of the botany department at the museum, Gander collected plants systematically throughout San Diego County and put together the most complete list of its plants thus far. Although still relatively incomplete, it formed the basis of Ethel Bailey Higgins Annotated Distributional List of the ferns and flowering of San Diego County (1949). His knowledge of the natural history of San Diego was extremely broad and he is also responsible for herpetological specimens in the museum. Species named after him include Cryptantha ganderi I.M. Johnst., Lepechinia ganderi Epling, and Senecio ganderi T.M. Barkley & R.M. Beauch.

Sources:
E.B. Higgins, 1949, Annotated Distributional List of the ferns and flowering of San Diego County.