Edith Katherine Cash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edith Katherine Cash
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| Born | 14 October 1890  Binghamton |
| Died | 6 April 1992 (aged 101) Binghamton |
| Resting place | Washington, D.C. |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Mycologist |
Edith Katherine Cash was an amazing American scientist who studied fungi (a mycologist) and lichens (a lichenologist). She was born on October 14, 1890, and lived a very long life, passing away on April 6, 1992, at 101 years old.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Edith Cash was born in Binghamton, New York. She was a very bright student. In 1912, she graduated from George Washington University. She earned a degree in history and languages, focusing on French and English. She was even given an award for being excellent in her studies!
Later, Edith got special training in mycology, which is the study of fungi. She worked at the USDA Graduate School for her entire career. She started as a botanical translator in 1913. Over the years, she moved up, becoming a junior pathologist in 1924. She then became an assistant pathologist in 1929, an associate mycologist in 1944, and finally a full mycologist in 1956.
Her Work as a Scientist
Edith Cash was known by her fellow scientists as a smart scholar. She was also a great mentor, helping young people start their careers. She was very careful and accurate in her work. This helped her become an editor for important science journals.
She was the editor for the mycology section of Biological Abstracts for many years. She was also the only person to serve three five-year terms on the editorial board of Mycologia.
Discovering New Fungi
During her first ten years as a mycologist, Edith Cash published 14 papers. Eleven of these papers were about a group of fungi called Discomycetes. These fungi have a special cup-shaped part called an apothecium. She described 37 new species of these fungi! She also helped people become more interested in studying the Sclerotinia genus of fungi.
Edith Cash described Discomycetes from many different places. These included California and Hawaii. She also found new Discomycetes and Hysteriales in Florida. Her research also covered fungi from South America and India. She even studied fungi found on living orchids.
Important Publications
In 1965, Edith Cash published a helpful book called A Mycological English-Latin Glossary. This book helped scientists around the world understand the Latin names for fungi.
Throughout her career, she described 134 new species of fungi. All of these discoveries were published in scientific journals. She also identified over 11,000 fungus samples. Plus, she wrote descriptions in Latin for over 600 species of fungi and plants for her colleagues.
Later Life and Legacy
Edith Cash retired on May 31, 1958. However, she didn't stop working! She continued her own research. She also kept writing Latin descriptions for other scientists.
In 1975, Edith and her sister moved back to Binghamton, New York. There, she taught people in her community about local flowering plants. She never married. She passed away on April 6, 1992, at the age of 101. She is buried in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C., near her older sister, Lillian Claire Cash, who was a microbiologist.
Awards and Recognition
Edith Cash received the US Government Superior Service Award in 1956. This award was for her amazing work on a world-wide fungus index. This index was a main source for information about fungus names and how they are classified.
Just three years after she retired, she was honored in the Gallery of Contemporary Noted Mycologists. She was a member of several important scientific groups, including:
- The American Phytopathological Society
- The American Association for the Advancement of Science
- The Mycological Society of America (she was a founding member!)
She was also listed in American Men of Science in 1960. Some fungi and lichens have even been named in her honor! These include the genus Cashiella, the fungus Lamprospora cashiae, and the lichen Lethariella cashmeriana.
See also
In Spanish: Edith Cash para niños
