Elsie Maud Wakefield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elsie Maud Wakefield
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Elsie Maud Wakefield c.1920
|
|
| Born | 3 July 1886 |
| Died | 17 June 1972 (aged 85) |
| Known for | Contributions to taxonomic mycology and plant pathology |
| Awards | Linnean Society, Fellow, 1911; Mycological Society, President, 1929; Mycological Society, Secretary 1918-1936; Mycological Society, Honorary Member, 1941; OBE, 1950 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mycology |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | Wakef. |
Elsie Maud Wakefield (born July 3, 1886 – died June 17, 1972) was an amazing English scientist. She was a mycologist, which means she studied fungi like mushrooms and molds. She was also a plant pathologist, someone who studies plant diseases. Elsie made huge contributions to understanding fungi and protecting plants.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Elsie Maud Wakefield was born in Birmingham, England. Her father was a science teacher, which might have sparked her early interest in science. She attended Swansea High School for Girls.
Studying Botany at Oxford
After high school, Elsie went to Somerville College, Oxford. There, she studied botany, which is the science of plants. She was a brilliant student and earned top honors in her degree. This strong start prepared her for a career in scientific discovery.
A Career Studying Fungi
After finishing her studies, Elsie received a special scholarship. This allowed her to work with Professor Karl von Tubeuf in Munich, Germany. She studied larger fungi there and even published her first scientific paper in German.
Starting at Kew Gardens
In 1910, Elsie returned to England. She began working at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, a famous scientific institution. She became an assistant to George Massee, who was the head of the mycology department. This department focused on fungi and other simple plants called cryptogams. When George Massee retired in 1915, Elsie took over his important role. She became the head of mycology at Kew.
Exploring Fungi Around the World
In 1920, Elsie received another scholarship. This time, she traveled to the West Indies for six months. There, she worked as a mycologist, studying tropical fungi. She continued her work at Kew until she retired in 1951. Elsie studied both British and tropical fungi. She was especially interested in certain types called corticioid and tomentelloid species.
A World Expert on Fungi
Elsie was a specialist in a large group of fungi called Basidiomycota. This group includes many common mushrooms. She was known internationally for her deep knowledge of Aphyllophorales, another important group of fungi. During her career, she also published several papers about plant diseases. In 1944, R.W.G. Dennis joined her as an assistant. He later became head of mycology when Elsie retired.
Her Lasting Impact
Elsie Wakefield was a highly respected scientist. In 1929, she was chosen as the President of the British Mycological Society. This was a great honor. In 1950, she received the OBE award, which stands for Officer of the Order of the British Empire. This award recognized her important contributions to science.
During her career, Elsie published nearly 100 scientific papers. These papers were about fungi and plant diseases. She also wrote two popular guidebooks to help people identify larger British fungi. She discovered and described many new species of fungi from Britain and other countries.
Fungi Named After Elsie
To honor her work, several fungi were named after Elsie Wakefield. These include the fungal groups Wakefieldia and Wakefieldiomyces. Many individual species also carry her name, such as Aleurodiscus wakefieldiae, Amaurodon wakefieldiae, Brachysporium wakefieldiae, Crepidotus wakefieldiae, Hypochnicium wakefieldiae, Pneumocystis wakefieldiae, Poria wakefieldiae, Postia wakefieldiae, and Thelephora wakefieldiae.
Elsie Maud Wakefield is remembered as one of the most important British mycologists of her time. Her work helped us understand the amazing world of fungi much better.
See also
In Spanish: Elsie Maud Wakefield para niños
