Elizabeth Jill Cowley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Jill Cowley
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| Born | 1940 |
| Nationality | British |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botany, Horticulture |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | Cowley |
Elizabeth Jill Cowley, born in 1940, is a British botanist. A botanist is a scientist who studies plants. She is well-known for her work at the famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London. Jill Cowley was especially interested in plants from warm places like East Africa. She also studied a specific group of beautiful plants called Roscoea.
Contents
Early Life and Plant Studies
Jill Cowley loved plants from a young age. She first worked at a plant nursery in Tadworth, Surrey. A nursery is a place where plants are grown and sold. In 1958, she went to Merrist Wood College to study horticulture. Horticulture is the art and science of growing plants. After her studies, she worked at Elm Garden Nurseries for eight years. She also gained experience working with plants in Geneva, Switzerland, and near Guildford in the UK.
Working at Kew Gardens
In 1968, Jill Cowley began her career at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She started in the Temperate House, which is a large greenhouse. There, she focused on plants from the Himalaya region. In 1972, she moved to the Herbarium at Kew. A herbarium is like a huge library of dried plant specimens. Scientists study these specimens to learn more about different plants. Jill Cowley worked on a group of plants called petaloid monocots. These are plants like lilies that have flower parts in threes. She retired from her full-time role in 2000. However, she continued to be an Honorary Research Associate. This means she kept helping with research at Kew.
Exploring Plants Worldwide
During her time as a botanist, Jill Cowley went on exciting trips to collect plants. She traveled to places like Korea, Turkey, and China. These trips helped her gather new plant samples for the Kew Herbarium. Collecting plants in their natural homes is very important for understanding them. It also helps scientists protect rare or endangered species.
Personal Life
Elizabeth Jill Bedwell married Richard Cowley in 1970. Richard was also a student at Kew Gardens.
See also
In Spanish: Elizabeth Jill Cowley para niños
