Florence Ellen Hewitt (1 September 1910, Grahamstown – 20 May 1979, Pretoria) was a South African botanist, algologist and teacher, daughter of John Hewitt, curator of the Albany Museum from 1910 to 1948.[1]

Florence Ellen Hewitt
Born(1910-09-01)1 September 1910
Makhanda, South Africa
Died20 May 1979(1979-05-20) (aged 68)
Pretoria, South Africa
Occupation(s)botanist, algologist

Life and career

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Florence Ellen Hewitt was born on 1 September 1910 in Grahamstown.[1] Her father John Hewitt was a herpetologist, curator of the Albany Museum from 1910 to 1948 and founding member of the South African Museums Association.[2]

Hewitt was educated at Rhodes University graduating as Bachelor and Master of Sciences.[1] She studied under G. F. Papenfuss at Berkeley, California, and published “A morphological study of three South African Gigartinales” in University California Publishing.[1]

From 1931 to 1937, Hewitt taught biology at D.S.G Grahamstown, from 1938 to 1939 – in England.[1] From 1941 until her retirement in 1970, she taught biology and general science at Wynberg Girls’ High School in Cape Town.[3]

In 1956–1957, she participated in educational exchange under the auspices of American private agencies by the year for the Union of South Africa at the University of California, Berkeley.[3] During the educational exchange at the University of California Hewitt conducted a research in techniques employed in study of the comparative morphology of South African seaweeds.[3]

From 1972 to 1977, Hewitt worked as a temporary assistant under Mr. R. H. Simons for the Seaweed Research Unit of the Division of Sea Fisheries, having collected over 100 seaweeds, incorporated in R.H. Simon's collection.[1]

Florence Ellen Hewitt died on 20 May 1979 in Pretoria.[1]

Works

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  • 1955 – Studies of Hypnea spicifera. Rhodes University Editor
  • 1960 – A Morphological Study of Three South African Gigantinales. Vols. 32-33 from Univ. Of California Berkeley, Calif: publications in botany. Editor Univ. Of California Press, 30 pp
  • 1976 – Marine Algae from Southern Africa: 2. Morphology and Taxonomy of Five Foliaceous Florideophyceae (Rhodophyta). Investigational report 110. With RH Simons. Editor Rep. Of South Africa, Dep. Of Industries, Sea Fisheries Branch, 46 pp.

Taxon names authored

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Gunn, Mary; Codd, L. E. W. (1 June 1981). Botanical Exploration Southern Africa. CRC Press. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-86961-129-6.
  2. ^ "Hewitt; John (1880-1961); herpetologist". www.nhm.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Staff, United States Department of State Cultural Planning and Coordination (1959). International Educational Exchange and Related Exchange-of-persons Activities: The Union of South Africa.
  4. ^ "Callophycus africanus (F.Schmitz) F.E.Hewitt 1960 :: Algaebase". www.algaebase.org. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Iridaea convoluta (Areschoug ex J Agardh) Hewitt 1960 :: Algaebase". www.algaebase.org. Retrieved 5 January 2021.