Degener, Otto, 1899-1988

Otto Degener (1899-1988) was a systematic botanist and conservationist, recognized as the authority on the flora of the Hawaiian Islands. He was Collaborator in Hawaiian Botany at the New York Botanical Garden from 1935-1988. He was named the first Naturalist for the Hawaii National Park in 1929. In 1942 he discovered Degeneria vitiensis, in Fiji--the missing link between the angiosperms and gymnosperms. He began publishing Flora Hawaiiensis in 1937 and in 1986 it reached its 7th part. With his wife Dr. Isa Hansen, Degener collected over 36,000 different species and preserved over 900 endangered plants for the NYBG. He was awarded the NYBG Distinguished Service Award, the Linnaeus Medal, the Willdenow Medal and the World Wildlife Fund Award of Honor. He was born in East Orange, N.J. He attended the Massachusetts Agricultural College (U.Mass. Amherst), received his M.A. from the University of Hawaii and his Ph.D. from Columbia University and died on Oahu on January 16, 1988.

From the description of Otto Degener records, 1920-1987. (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155483389

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