Ken Hill (botanist)

Kenneth D. Hill, Ken Hill ( born August 6 1948 in Armidale, New South Wales; † August 4, 2010 in Sydney ) was an Australian botanist. His botanical author abbreviation is " KDHill ".

Early years

Ken Hill was born in Armidale, and grew up on a farm in Guyra. He attended the " Guyra Central School " and then the " Armidale High School ". Even as a child he was very interested in plants. After finishing school he studied at the University of New England, where he obtained a degree in Bachelor of Sciences ( B.Sc. ( Hons. ) ) and then the title of Master of Science ( M.Sc.) in Geology. He also took additional courses in botany.

Professional life

First, Hill worked as a geologist expedition in the Northern Territory and in Sudan.

In 1983 he joined as technical staff in the National Herbarium of New South Wales in the service of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney one. Under the direction of Lawrence Alexander Sidney Johnson and together with Don Blaxell he set about the reorganization of the eucalypts. He also wrote descriptions of gymnosperms for " Flora of Australia". 1986 Hill was officially set as a botanist and continued his work on the reorganization of the eucalypts. He began as a continuation of his work on the "Flora of Australia", with descriptions of Sagopalmfarne ( Cycas ). Also at the discovery, naming, description and study of Wollemia 1995, he played a key role.

From mid-1997 to mid-1998, Hill was as Australian Botanical Liaison Officer to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, seconded. From 1999 to 2004 he worked as a " Senior Research Scientist" at the National Herbarium of New South Wales.

Ken Hill created a number of websites for the documentation of plants. So he made a name for himself as a " botanic computer ". Examples include "The Cycad Pages", " NSW Flora Online", " EucaLink " and " WattleWeb " (now " PlantNet "). He traveled all over Australia, and later also the botanical still little explored Asia-Pacific region and studied eucalyptus and Sagopalmfarne. He belonged to the " IUCN / SSS Cycad Specialist Group" and played a major role in the absorption of the endangered Asian and Australian Sagopalmfarne in the IUCN Red List.

On 13 August 2004 Ken Hill was retired early because of his ailing health.

Home life

Ken Hill married Leslie Greenwood. From this marriage two daughters, Zoe and Phoebe were born.

Later years and death

After his retirement, Hill began his own work, particularly in the description of the Sagopalmfarne to continue. He developed The Cycad Pages on with the aim of a monograph on this plant genus. The publication of this monograph he did not live, however.

His private interests ranged alongside the Botany of birds, music, movies, stamps, genealogy, art, motorcycles and travel. Hill was a gifted gardener and wanted to retire later on his property in Somersby at Gosford. This, too, had his poor health no longer.

On 4 August 2010 Ken Hill died at the age of 62 years.

Swell

• Leonie Stan mountain: Hill, Kenneth ( Ken ) D. ( 1948-2010 ). Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Australian National Herbarium ( CHAH ) with photo