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Kenneth Robert Sporne

April 11, 2024

Kenneth Robert Sporne (23 December 1915 – 12 April 1989) was a British botanist and plant morphologist who lectured at Cambridge University.[1][2]

Early life and education edit

He was born in Towcester, moving to Morecambe where his father, Robert William Sporne, was a headmaster. He attended The Royal Grammar School, Lancaster where, unable to study biology, he pursued an interest in collecting plants and animals, going on to win the Sanderson Herbarium Prize.[3] He studied biology at Downing College, Cambridge, where his interest was in ecology, especially the salt marshes of the river Lune. He completed his Natural Sciences Tripos[4] in 1939 and went on to study floral evolution under Dr H. Hamshaw Thomas. He joined a collecting expedition to Jamaica for three months with Dr Val J. Chapman.[2][5]

War service edit

As an undergraduate, he had been a member of the Signals branch of the Cambridge University Officers' Training Corps. During the Second World War he volunteered for service and served in the Royal Corps of Signals,[6] being commissioned and taking part in D-Day on D-Day+3.[2] He was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre with palm and a Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II.[7] Eventually he was promoted to major,[8] and his last task was to set up an automatic telephone exchange connecting the main military headquarters in West Germany.[2]

Career edit

Back at Downing College after the war he was a temporary demonstrator (1946), appointed to a demonstratorship in 1948 and lecturer in Botany (1955). He became a Fellow (1949–1976) and eventually Emeritus Fellow; he was Director of Studies in Biology (1950–1976) and Dean (1952–1967). He visited New Zealand in 1951 and 1969.[2] He was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1956.[9]

His main interest was in angiosperm evolution and he pioneered the statistical analysis of the correlations between plant characteristics as a way of studying plant evolution.[10] In 1980 he published his 'advancement index' for 291 dicotyledonous angiosperm families using 30 correlated characters.[11]

He published three major text books on plant morphology. He was awarded Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) by the University of Cambridge in 1976. He retired in 1982 [1] and died in Cambridge in 1989.

Personal life edit

In 1943 he was married in Cambridge to Helen Martin Fletcher (1915–2007), a botanist with degrees from Universities in New Zealand and Cambridge.[2][12][13] They had two daughters.

Books edit

  • The Morphology of Pteridophytes, (1962, 1975 4th edition). Hutchinson University Library
  • The Morphology of Gymnosperms, (1965, 1974 2nd edition). Hutchinson University Library
  • The Mysterious Origin of Flowering Plants, (1971). Oxford Biology Reader No.3.
  • The Morphology of Angiosperms, (1974). Hutchinson University Library

Publications edit

1948 Correlation and classification in dicotyledons. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, Session, 160: 40-47. [1]

1949 A new approach to the problem of the primitive flower. New Phytologist, 48: 259-176. [2]

1954 Statistics and the evolution of dicotyledons. Evolution 8: 55 64. [3]

1954 A note on nuclear endosperms as a primitive character among dicotyledons. Phytomorphology, 4: 275-278.

1956 The phylogenetic classification of the angiosperms. Biological Reviews, 31: 1-29. [4]

1958 Some aspects of floral vascular systems. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, Session, 169: 75-84. [5]

1959 On the phylogenetic classification of plants. American Journal of Botany, 46, 385-394. [6]

1960 Correlation of biological characters. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, Session, 171: 83-85. [7]

1967 Nuclear endosperm an enigma. Phytomorphology, 17: 248-151.

1969 The ovule as an indicator of evolutionary status in angiosperms. New Phytologist, 68: 555-566. [8]

1970 The advancement index and tropical rain-forest. New Phytologist, 69: 1161-1166. [9]

1972 Some observations on the evolution of pollen types in dicotyledons. New Phytologist, 71: 181-185. [10]

1973 A note on the evolutionary status of tapetal types in dicotyledons. New Phytologist, 72: 1173-1174. [11]

1973 The survival of archaic dicotyledons in tropical rain-forests. New Phytologist, 72: 1175-1184. [12]

1974 Pollen evolution in dicotyledons. In R. N. Lakhanpal (Ed.) The Origin and Phytogeography of Angiosperms: 57-61. Special Publication No. 1. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow, India. (Paper read in Lucknow, in 1971.)

1975 A note on ellagitannins as indicators of evolutionary status in dicotyledons. New Phytologist, 75: 613-618.

1976 A note on the evolutionary status of aluminium-accumulators among dicotyledons. With E. M. Chenery. New Phytologist, 76: 551-554. [13]

1976 Girdling vascular bundles in dicotyledon flowers. Gardens Bulletin, Singapore, 29: 165-173.

1976 Character correlations among angiosperms and the importance of fossil evidence in assessing their significance. In C. B. Beck (Ed.) Origin and Early Evolution of Angiosperms: 319-329. New York: Columbia University Press. (Paper read in Boulder, Colorado, in 1973.)

1977 Some problems associated with character correlations. In K. Kubitzki (Ed.) Flowering Plants Evolution and Classification of Higher Categories: 33-51. Plant Systematics and Evolution Supplement 1. Vienna: Springer Verlag. (Paper read in Hamburg, 1976.)

1980 A reinvestigation of character correlations amongst dicotyledons. New Phytologist, 85: 419-449. [14]

1982 The advancement index vindicated. New Phytologist, 91: 137 145. [15]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Sporne, Kenneth Robert (1915-)". JSTOR.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Duckett, J.G.; Edwards, D. (January 1984). "K. R. Sporne, M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D., F.L.S.". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 88 (1–2): iii–vii. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1984.tb01561a.x.
  3. ^ "The Prize List". Morecambe Guardian. 12 October 1929. p. 9.
  4. ^ "Cambridge Tripos". Lancashire Evening Post. 21 June 1937. p. 5.
  5. ^ "Cambridge Expedition To Jamaica". The Times. 10 July 1939. p. 19 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  6. ^ "The undermentioned Cadets to be 2nd Lts". The London Gazette. 34549: 5747. 11 August 1942 – via The Gazette.
  7. ^ "Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II with Palm. Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm". The London Gazette. 37853: 325. 14 January 1947 – via The Gazette.
  8. ^ "Royal Corps of Signals". The London Gazette. 37340: 5443. 6 November 1945 – via The Gazette.
  9. ^ "Presentation of the Linnean Gold Medal". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. 168 (1–2): 19–20. May 1957. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.1957.tb00774_19a.x – via Oxford Academic.
  10. ^ "K. R. Sporne's research while affiliated with Cambridge and other places". Research Gate. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  11. ^ Chapman, J.L. (June 1987). "Sporne's Advancement Index Revisited". The New Phytologist. 106 (2): 319–332. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1987.tb00146.x. JSTOR 2434863.
  12. ^ "Marriages". The Times. 8 December 1939 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  13. ^ "Marriages in England". Evening Post. Vol. CXXXV. 7 June 1943. p. 6 – via Papers Past.

April 11, 2024
kenneth, robert, sporne, december, 1915, april, 1989, british, botanist, plant, morphologist, lectured, cambridge, university, contents, early, life, education, service, career, personal, life, books, publications, referencesearly, life, education, edithe, bor. Kenneth Robert Sporne 23 December 1915 12 April 1989 was a British botanist and plant morphologist who lectured at Cambridge University 1 2 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 War service 3 Career 4 Personal life 5 Books 6 Publications 7 ReferencesEarly life and education editHe was born in Towcester moving to Morecambe where his father Robert William Sporne was a headmaster He attended The Royal Grammar School Lancaster where unable to study biology he pursued an interest in collecting plants and animals going on to win the Sanderson Herbarium Prize 3 He studied biology at Downing College Cambridge where his interest was in ecology especially the salt marshes of the river Lune He completed his Natural Sciences Tripos 4 in 1939 and went on to study floral evolution under Dr H Hamshaw Thomas He joined a collecting expedition to Jamaica for three months with Dr Val J Chapman 2 5 War service editAs an undergraduate he had been a member of the Signals branch of the Cambridge University Officers Training Corps During the Second World War he volunteered for service and served in the Royal Corps of Signals 6 being commissioned and taking part in D Day on D Day 3 2 He was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre with palm and a Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II 7 Eventually he was promoted to major 8 and his last task was to set up an automatic telephone exchange connecting the main military headquarters in West Germany 2 Career editBack at Downing College after the war he was a temporary demonstrator 1946 appointed to a demonstratorship in 1948 and lecturer in Botany 1955 He became a Fellow 1949 1976 and eventually Emeritus Fellow he was Director of Studies in Biology 1950 1976 and Dean 1952 1967 He visited New Zealand in 1951 and 1969 2 He was elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1956 9 His main interest was in angiosperm evolution and he pioneered the statistical analysis of the correlations between plant characteristics as a way of studying plant evolution 10 In 1980 he published his advancement index for 291 dicotyledonous angiosperm families using 30 correlated characters 11 He published three major text books on plant morphology He was awarded Doctor of Science Sc D by the University of Cambridge in 1976 He retired in 1982 1 and died in Cambridge in 1989 Personal life editIn 1943 he was married in Cambridge to Helen Martin Fletcher 1915 2007 a botanist with degrees from Universities in New Zealand and Cambridge 2 12 13 They had two daughters Books editThe Morphology of Pteridophytes 1962 1975 4th edition Hutchinson University Library The Morphology of Gymnosperms 1965 1974 2nd edition Hutchinson University Library The Mysterious Origin of Flowering Plants 1971 Oxford Biology Reader No 3 The Morphology of Angiosperms 1974 Hutchinson University LibraryPublications edit1948 Correlation and classification in dicotyledons Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London Session 160 40 47 1 1949 A new approach to the problem of the primitive flower New Phytologist 48 259 176 2 1954 Statistics and the evolution of dicotyledons Evolution 8 55 64 3 1954 A note on nuclear endosperms as a primitive character among dicotyledons Phytomorphology 4 275 278 1956 The phylogenetic classification of the angiosperms Biological Reviews 31 1 29 4 1958 Some aspects of floral vascular systems Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London Session 169 75 84 5 1959 On the phylogenetic classification of plants American Journal of Botany 46 385 394 6 1960 Correlation of biological characters Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London Session 171 83 85 7 1967 Nuclear endosperm an enigma Phytomorphology 17 248 151 1969 The ovule as an indicator of evolutionary status in angiosperms New Phytologist 68 555 566 8 1970 The advancement index and tropical rain forest New Phytologist 69 1161 1166 9 1972 Some observations on the evolution of pollen types in dicotyledons New Phytologist 71 181 185 10 1973 A note on the evolutionary status of tapetal types in dicotyledons New Phytologist 72 1173 1174 11 1973 The survival of archaic dicotyledons in tropical rain forests New Phytologist 72 1175 1184 12 1974 Pollen evolution in dicotyledons In R N Lakhanpal Ed The Origin and Phytogeography of Angiosperms 57 61 Special Publication No 1 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany Lucknow India Paper read in Lucknow in 1971 1975 A note on ellagitannins as indicators of evolutionary status in dicotyledons New Phytologist 75 613 618 1976 A note on the evolutionary status of aluminium accumulators among dicotyledons With E M Chenery New Phytologist 76 551 554 13 1976 Girdling vascular bundles in dicotyledon flowers Gardens Bulletin Singapore 29 165 173 1976 Character correlations among angiosperms and the importance of fossil evidence in assessing their significance In C B Beck Ed Origin and Early Evolution of Angiosperms 319 329 New York Columbia University Press Paper read in Boulder Colorado in 1973 1977 Some problems associated with character correlations In K Kubitzki Ed Flowering Plants Evolution and Classification of Higher Categories 33 51 Plant Systematics and Evolution Supplement 1 Vienna Springer Verlag Paper read in Hamburg 1976 1980 A reinvestigation of character correlations amongst dicotyledons New Phytologist 85 419 449 14 1982 The advancement index vindicated New Phytologist 91 137 145 15 References edit a b Sporne Kenneth Robert 1915 JSTOR a b c d e f Duckett J G Edwards D January 1984 K R Sporne M A Ph D Sc D F L S Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 88 1 2 iii vii doi 10 1111 j 1095 8339 1984 tb01561a x The Prize List Morecambe Guardian 12 October 1929 p 9 Cambridge Tripos Lancashire Evening Post 21 June 1937 p 5 Cambridge Expedition To Jamaica The Times 10 July 1939 p 19 via The Times Digital Archive The undermentioned Cadets to be 2nd Lts The London Gazette 34549 5747 11 August 1942 via The Gazette Chevalier of the Order of Leopold II with Palm Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm The London Gazette 37853 325 14 January 1947 via The Gazette Royal Corps of Signals The London Gazette 37340 5443 6 November 1945 via The Gazette Presentation of the Linnean Gold Medal Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London 168 1 2 19 20 May 1957 doi 10 1111 j 1095 8312 1957 tb00774 19a x via Oxford Academic K R Sporne s research while affiliated with Cambridge and other places Research Gate Retrieved 2 October 2021 Chapman J L June 1987 Sporne s Advancement Index Revisited The New Phytologist 106 2 319 332 doi 10 1111 j 1469 8137 1987 tb00146 x JSTOR 2434863 Marriages The Times 8 December 1939 via The Times Digital Archive Marriages in England Evening Post Vol CXXXV 7 June 1943 p 6 via Papers Past Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kenneth Robert Sporne amp oldid 1216530783, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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