William Trelease facts for kids

William Trelease (born February 22, 1857 – died January 1, 1945) was an American scientist. He was known for studying plants (a botanist) and insects (an entomologist). He was also an explorer, writer, and teacher. When you see the abbreviation Trel. next to a plant name, it means William Trelease was the one who first described or named that plant.

Early Life and Education

William Trelease was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He went to Cornell University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1880. After college, he started teaching.

A Career in Botany

Trelease taught botany at several important universities.

• From 1880 to 1881, he was an instructor at Harvard University.
• From 1881 to 1885, he taught at the University of Wisconsin. He became a full professor there in 1883.
• He also gave special lectures at Johns Hopkins University.

In 1885, Trelease became a professor at Washington University in St. Louis. He stayed there until 1913. During this time, he also became the director of the Missouri Botanical Garden in 1889. He led the garden until 1912.

Trelease was a very active scientist. He was the first president of the Botanical Society of America in 1894. He served as president again in 1918. Later, from 1913 to 1926, he was a professor and head of the botany department at the University of Illinois. A building at the University of Illinois, Trelease Hall, is named after him.

Exciting Expeditions

William Trelease loved to explore and study plants in different parts of the world.

• In 1899, he joined the Harriman Alaska Expedition. This was a two-month trip to Alaska with other scientists.
• In 1932, he led a trip to the Canary Isles and Spain to study plants.
• In 1933, he went on another expedition to New Zealand.

Writings and Legacy

Trelease wrote many scientific articles and detailed books about plants. One of his big projects was about the Piperaceae family of plants in Northern South America. He didn't finish it before he died, but his student, Truman G. Yuncker, completed it for him.

He also wrote popular books for people interested in gardening and plants, such as:

• Plant materials of decorative gardening (published in 1917)
• Winter Botany (published in 1918)

See also

In Spanish: William Trelease para niños