Edit History
Prance, Ghillean Tolmie (Iain) (1937-)
Date Updated: 19 April 2013
Herbarium
Natural History Museum (BM)
Collection
Plant Collectors
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Contributor
Natural History Museum (BM)
First name(s)
Ghillean Tolmie (Iain)
Last name
Prance
Initials
G.T.(I.)
Life Dates
1937 -
Collecting Dates
1963 - 1992
Specification
Plant collector
Groups collected
Spermatophytes
Organisation(s)
INPA (main), NY (main), A, AAU, BM, BR, C, CAY, COL, EGHB, F, FHO, G, GH, HBG, IAN, K, M, MG, MICH, MO, P, R, RB, S, SP, U, UB, UC, UFMT, US, VDB, VEN, VIST, Z
Countries
Tropical South America: Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, VenezuelaBrazilian region: BrazilMalesian region: BruneiCaribbean region: Jamaica, Trinidad and TobagoMadagascan region: MadagascarCentral American Continent: PanamaEurope: United KingdomNorth American region: United States
Associate(s)
Acevedo Rodríguez, Pedro (1954-) (co-collector)
Alarcon, Clara (fl. 1983) (co-collector)
Allen, Carolin Kathryn (1904-1975) (co-collector)
Amaral, I.L. do (fl. 1984) (co-collector)
Anderson, Anthony Benett (1950-) (co-collector)
Andriantiana, Jackie Lucien (1959-) (co-collector)
Atchley, A.A. (fl. 1971) (co-collector)
Bahia, R.P. (fl. 1980-1992) (co-collector)
Balick, Michael Jeffrey (1952-) (co-collector)
Beentje, Henk Jaap (1951-) (co-collector)
Bennett, Bradley Charlton (1956-) (co-author)
Berg, Cornelis Christiaan (1934-) (co-collector)
Bernardi, (Alessandro) Luciano (1920-2001) (co-collector)
Bisby, Frank Ainley (1945-) (co-collector)
Boeke, Jef D. (1954-) (co-collector)
Boom, Brian Morley (1954-) (co-collector)
Campbell, David George (1949-) (co-collector)
Castillo, Rafael (fl. 1968-1986) (co-collector)
Coêlho, Dionizio F. (fl. 1962-1973) (co-collector)
Coêlho, Luiz Fernandez (fl. 1955-1987) (co-collector)
Cress, A. (fl. 1984-1987) (co-collector)
Daly, Douglas Charles de Burgh (1953-) (co-author)
Dransfield, John (1945-) (co-collector)
Dransfield, Soejatmi (1939-) (co-collector)
Farias, L.G. (fl. 1962-1968) (co-collector)
Forero González, Enrique (1942-) (co-collector)
Gracie, Carol (fl. 1993-2006) (co-collector)
Granville, Jean-Jacques de (1943-) (co-collector)
Han (fl. 1992) (co-collector)
Harley, Raymond Mervyn (1936-) (co-collector)
Harter, F.P. (fl. 1971) (co-collector)
Henderson, A. (co-collector)
Henderson, Andrew James (1950-) (co-collector)
Hill, R.J. (fl. 1977) (co-collector)
Holmgren, Noel Herman (1937-) (co-collector)
Huang, Y.-Y. (fl. 2008) (co-collector)
Huber, Otto (1944-) (co-collector)
Ibrahim bis (fl. 1992) (co-collector)
Irwin, Howard Samuel (1928-) (co-collector)
Jang (fl. 1992) (co-collector)
Joffre, H.A.A. (fl. 1992-1994) (co-collector)
Kubitzki, Klaus (1933-) (co-collector)
Leppard, Malcolm J. (fl. 1974-1984) (co-collector)
Lima, João Ferreira (fl. 1971-1974) (co-collector)
Lleras, Eduardo (1944-) (co-collector)
Maas, Paulus Johannes Maria (1939-) (co-collector)
Maciel, Ubirajara Nery (1940-) (co-author, co-collector)
Matuszak, John M. (fl. 1975-2001) (co-collector)
Monteiro, Osmarino P. (fl. 1967-1978) (co-collector)
Moore, Harold Emery (Hal) (1917-1980) (co-collector)
Mori, Scott A. (1941-) (co-collector)
Mota, Cosme Damião Alves da (fl. 1979-1984) (co-collector)
Nelson, Bruce W. (1953-) (co-collector)
Niga (fl. 1992) (co-collector)
Ongley, J.C. (1950-) (co-collector)
Pena, Bento da Silva (fl. 1970-1973) (co-collector)
Pennington, Terence Dale (1938-) (co-collector)
Philcox, David (1926-2003) (co-collector)
Pinheiro, W.S. (fl. 1971) (co-collector)
Pipoly, John James (1955-) (co-collector)
Pires, João Murça (1917-1994) (co-collector)
Pollard, Benedict John (1972-) (co-collector)
Prance, A.E. (fl. 1974) (co-collector)
Prance, Ian (synonym)
Ramos, J.M. (fl. 1976) (co-collector)
Ramos, José Ferreira (fl. 1966-2001) (co-collector)
Ratcliffe, Derek Almey (1929-) (co-collector)
Rodrigues, William Antônio (1928-) (co-collector)
Santos, M.R. dos (fl. 1979-1993) (co-collector)
Sastre, Claude Henri Léon (1938-) (co-collector)
Shimabukuru, D. (fl. 1977) (co-collector)
Silva, Milton Gonçalves da (fl. 1964-1980) (co-collector)
Silva, Nilo Tomás da (fl. 1956-1968) (co-collector)
Smith Merrill, Gary Lane (1939-) (co-collector)
Soderstrom, Thomas Robert (1936-1987) (co-collector)
Steward, J.R. (fl. 1970) (co-collector)
Steward, W.C. (1953-) (co-collector)
Steyermark, Julian Alfred (1909-1988) (co-collector)
Tavares, Aldaléa Sprada (1953-) (co-collector)
Videcki (fl. 1966) (co-collector)
Woodbury, Roy Orlo (1913-2002) (co-collector)
Woolcott, D.B. (fl. 1971) (co-collector)
Wrigley, B.L. (fl. 1968) (co-collector)
Wurdack, John Julius (1921-1998) (co-collector)
Alarcon, Clara (fl. 1983) (co-collector)
Allen, Carolin Kathryn (1904-1975) (co-collector)
Amaral, I.L. do (fl. 1984) (co-collector)
Anderson, Anthony Benett (1950-) (co-collector)
Andriantiana, Jackie Lucien (1959-) (co-collector)
Atchley, A.A. (fl. 1971) (co-collector)
Bahia, R.P. (fl. 1980-1992) (co-collector)
Balick, Michael Jeffrey (1952-) (co-collector)
Beentje, Henk Jaap (1951-) (co-collector)
Bennett, Bradley Charlton (1956-) (co-author)
Berg, Cornelis Christiaan (1934-) (co-collector)
Bernardi, (Alessandro) Luciano (1920-2001) (co-collector)
Bisby, Frank Ainley (1945-) (co-collector)
Boeke, Jef D. (1954-) (co-collector)
Boom, Brian Morley (1954-) (co-collector)
Campbell, David George (1949-) (co-collector)
Castillo, Rafael (fl. 1968-1986) (co-collector)
Coêlho, Dionizio F. (fl. 1962-1973) (co-collector)
Coêlho, Luiz Fernandez (fl. 1955-1987) (co-collector)
Cress, A. (fl. 1984-1987) (co-collector)
Daly, Douglas Charles de Burgh (1953-) (co-author)
Dransfield, John (1945-) (co-collector)
Dransfield, Soejatmi (1939-) (co-collector)
Farias, L.G. (fl. 1962-1968) (co-collector)
Forero González, Enrique (1942-) (co-collector)
Gracie, Carol (fl. 1993-2006) (co-collector)
Granville, Jean-Jacques de (1943-) (co-collector)
Han (fl. 1992) (co-collector)
Harley, Raymond Mervyn (1936-) (co-collector)
Harter, F.P. (fl. 1971) (co-collector)
Henderson, A. (co-collector)
Henderson, Andrew James (1950-) (co-collector)
Hill, R.J. (fl. 1977) (co-collector)
Holmgren, Noel Herman (1937-) (co-collector)
Huang, Y.-Y. (fl. 2008) (co-collector)
Huber, Otto (1944-) (co-collector)
Ibrahim bis (fl. 1992) (co-collector)
Irwin, Howard Samuel (1928-) (co-collector)
Jang (fl. 1992) (co-collector)
Joffre, H.A.A. (fl. 1992-1994) (co-collector)
Kubitzki, Klaus (1933-) (co-collector)
Leppard, Malcolm J. (fl. 1974-1984) (co-collector)
Lima, João Ferreira (fl. 1971-1974) (co-collector)
Lleras, Eduardo (1944-) (co-collector)
Maas, Paulus Johannes Maria (1939-) (co-collector)
Maciel, Ubirajara Nery (1940-) (co-author, co-collector)
Matuszak, John M. (fl. 1975-2001) (co-collector)
Monteiro, Osmarino P. (fl. 1967-1978) (co-collector)
Moore, Harold Emery (Hal) (1917-1980) (co-collector)
Mori, Scott A. (1941-) (co-collector)
Mota, Cosme Damião Alves da (fl. 1979-1984) (co-collector)
Nelson, Bruce W. (1953-) (co-collector)
Niga (fl. 1992) (co-collector)
Ongley, J.C. (1950-) (co-collector)
Pena, Bento da Silva (fl. 1970-1973) (co-collector)
Pennington, Terence Dale (1938-) (co-collector)
Philcox, David (1926-2003) (co-collector)
Pinheiro, W.S. (fl. 1971) (co-collector)
Pipoly, John James (1955-) (co-collector)
Pires, João Murça (1917-1994) (co-collector)
Pollard, Benedict John (1972-) (co-collector)
Prance, A.E. (fl. 1974) (co-collector)
Prance, Ian (synonym)
Ramos, J.M. (fl. 1976) (co-collector)
Ramos, José Ferreira (fl. 1966-2001) (co-collector)
Ratcliffe, Derek Almey (1929-) (co-collector)
Rodrigues, William Antônio (1928-) (co-collector)
Santos, M.R. dos (fl. 1979-1993) (co-collector)
Sastre, Claude Henri Léon (1938-) (co-collector)
Shimabukuru, D. (fl. 1977) (co-collector)
Silva, Milton Gonçalves da (fl. 1964-1980) (co-collector)
Silva, Nilo Tomás da (fl. 1956-1968) (co-collector)
Smith Merrill, Gary Lane (1939-) (co-collector)
Soderstrom, Thomas Robert (1936-1987) (co-collector)
Steward, J.R. (fl. 1970) (co-collector)
Steward, W.C. (1953-) (co-collector)
Steyermark, Julian Alfred (1909-1988) (co-collector)
Tavares, Aldaléa Sprada (1953-) (co-collector)
Videcki (fl. 1966) (co-collector)
Woodbury, Roy Orlo (1913-2002) (co-collector)
Woolcott, D.B. (fl. 1971) (co-collector)
Wrigley, B.L. (fl. 1968) (co-collector)
Wurdack, John Julius (1921-1998) (co-collector)
Biography
British botanist. Sir Ghillean Prance is a former director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. He was born in India, where his father was an official in the British Colonial Service. Soon afterwards, his family returned to Britain, settling on the Isle of Skye for the duration of the Second World War and afterwards in Toddington, Gloucestershire. Prance was sent to nearby Malvern College, where his interest in natural history, especially botany, was nurtured by his school housemaster, an amateur naturalist.
After completing a doctorate in botany at Keble College, Oxford, Prance joined an expedition to Suriname in 1963, led by Howard Irwin of the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), which was developing a programme of research in South America. At the end of the expedition Prance was offered a position as research associate. Over the next 25 years he advanced to B.A. Krukoff Curator of Amazonian Botany, Director and then Vice President of Research, and finally to Senior Vice President for Science. In 1981 he also became founding director of the Institute of Economic Botany at NYBG. In
1988 Prance left New York to become director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. He retired in 1999, but has remained very active, notably as Scientific Director of the Eden Project in Cornwall. He is also visiting professor at Reading University and the United States National Tropical Garden in Hawaii.
Much of Prance's time while working at NYBG was spent in Brazil leading botanical expeditions in the Amazonian forests and teaching at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia in Manaus, where he set up master's programmes in botany, ecology, entomology and ichthyology. He played an important part in the formation of Programa Flora Amazonia, a bi-national project established in 1975 to introduce a computerised database of the plants of the Amazonian region.
As a botanist, Prance started off studying plant taxonomy, publishing extensively on Chrysobalanaceae – the subject of his doctoral research – and Lecythidaceae, but later broadened his research to encompass a wide range of topics, from fruit dispersal, pollination by monkeys, the genetics of the Brazil nut, and ethnobotany (to name only a few). He drew much attention for his work on the pollination ecology of Victoria amazonica. Eventually his focus moved towards conservation and sustainable development. He has written more than a dozen books and over 400 papers, of both scientific and general interest, on plant systematics, plant ecology, ethnobotany, and conservation.
Prance has served as president of the Linnean Society, the Systematics Association, the Association of Tropical Biology, the American Association of Plant Taxonomists, and the Institute of Biology. He is a fellow of the Geographical Society, the Explorers Club, the Royal Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and also a foreign member of the Academy of Sciences of Brazil, Denmark, and Sweden. Equally important to him has been his involvement in Christian conservation organisations such as A Rocha, the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, and the Eco-Congregation Project. His many honours include a knighthood in 1995, the Victoria Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1999, and the International Cosmos Prize in 1993 for his environmental work in the Amazon. Several species from the Amazon are named in his honour including Anthurium pranceanum Croat , Lecythis prancei S.A. Mori and Trichogonia prancei G.M. Barroso.
After completing a doctorate in botany at Keble College, Oxford, Prance joined an expedition to Suriname in 1963, led by Howard Irwin of the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), which was developing a programme of research in South America. At the end of the expedition Prance was offered a position as research associate. Over the next 25 years he advanced to B.A. Krukoff Curator of Amazonian Botany, Director and then Vice President of Research, and finally to Senior Vice President for Science. In 1981 he also became founding director of the Institute of Economic Botany at NYBG. In
1988 Prance left New York to become director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. He retired in 1999, but has remained very active, notably as Scientific Director of the Eden Project in Cornwall. He is also visiting professor at Reading University and the United States National Tropical Garden in Hawaii.
Much of Prance's time while working at NYBG was spent in Brazil leading botanical expeditions in the Amazonian forests and teaching at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia in Manaus, where he set up master's programmes in botany, ecology, entomology and ichthyology. He played an important part in the formation of Programa Flora Amazonia, a bi-national project established in 1975 to introduce a computerised database of the plants of the Amazonian region.
As a botanist, Prance started off studying plant taxonomy, publishing extensively on Chrysobalanaceae – the subject of his doctoral research – and Lecythidaceae, but later broadened his research to encompass a wide range of topics, from fruit dispersal, pollination by monkeys, the genetics of the Brazil nut, and ethnobotany (to name only a few). He drew much attention for his work on the pollination ecology of Victoria amazonica. Eventually his focus moved towards conservation and sustainable development. He has written more than a dozen books and over 400 papers, of both scientific and general interest, on plant systematics, plant ecology, ethnobotany, and conservation.
Prance has served as president of the Linnean Society, the Systematics Association, the Association of Tropical Biology, the American Association of Plant Taxonomists, and the Institute of Biology. He is a fellow of the Geographical Society, the Explorers Club, the Royal Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and also a foreign member of the Academy of Sciences of Brazil, Denmark, and Sweden. Equally important to him has been his involvement in Christian conservation organisations such as A Rocha, the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, and the Eco-Congregation Project. His many honours include a knighthood in 1995, the Victoria Medal of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1999, and the International Cosmos Prize in 1993 for his environmental work in the Amazon. Several species from the Amazon are named in his honour including Anthurium pranceanum Croat , Lecythis prancei S.A. Mori and Trichogonia prancei G.M. Barroso.
References
Brummitt, R.K. & Powell, C.E., Authors Pl. Names (1992): 507; Kent, D.H. & Allen, D.E., Brit. Irish Herb. (1984): 223; Vegter, H.I., Index Herb. Coll. M (1976): 475; Vegter, H.I., Index Herb. Coll. N-R (1983): 664, 707, 708, 731; Vegter, H.I., Index Herb. Coll. S (1986): 922;
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