Thomas Franklin Daniel facts for kids

Thomas Franklin Daniel, born on September 14, 1954, is an American botanist and teacher. He is an expert in a plant family called Acanthaceae. This family includes many different kinds of flowering plants.

He started his journey in science at Duke University, where he earned his first degree in 1975. Later, in 1980, he completed his doctorate degree at the University of Michigan. After finishing his studies, he became an assistant professor in 1981. From 1981 to 1985, he worked as an assistant curator at the Arizona State University Herbarium. A herbarium is like a library for dried plant specimens.

His Career in Botany

Since 1986, Dr. Daniel has been a part of the California Academy of Sciences. He holds the title of Curator of Botany, Emeritus, which means he is a respected expert who has retired but still contributes. He also served as the president of the Botany Department multiple times, including from 1988 to 1990, 1994 to 1996, and again in 2009.

Besides his work at the California Academy of Sciences, Dr. Daniel has been a research professor at San Francisco State University since 1998. He also conducts research at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. His long career shows his dedication to studying and understanding the plant world.

Important Books and Discoveries

Dr. Daniel has written several important books about plants, especially focusing on the Acanthaceae family. These books help other scientists learn more about these plants.

Books He Wrote

• 1999. Flora of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley: fasciculo 23. Acanthaceae Juss. This book is about the plants of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley in Mexico.
• 1986. Systematics of Tetramerium (Acanthaceae). This book focuses on a specific group of plants called Tetramerium within the Acanthaceae family.
• 1983. Carlowrightia (Acanthaceae). This book is all about the Carlowrightia genus, another group of plants in the Acanthaceae family.

Special Recognitions

Dr. Daniel has received several honors for his work in botany. These recognitions show how much he has contributed to the field.

• He was the president of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists in 2001 and 2002. This society is for scientists who study how plants are classified.
• He was the Treasurer for the Botanical Society of California from 1986 to 1989.
• Since 2003, he has helped manage funds for the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, which supports plant-related projects.
• He is a member of the California Academy of Sciences Academy.
• He is also a member of the International Plant Taxonomy Association.
• Since 1994, he has been involved with the Project Species Plantarum.

Plants Named in His Honor

It is a great honor for a scientist to have a new species named after them. One plant has been named after Dr. Daniel:

• (Acanthaceae) Justicia danielii Durkee

See also

In Spanish: Thomas Franklin Daniel para niños