Scientist of the day - Agnes Arber

Agnes Arber

Agnes Arber was one of the most renowned botanists belonging to the 18th century. Her father was an artist and from him she gained the art of illustration which later on helped her in demonstrating the botanical works which she was involved in. She inculcated an interest in the subject of botany when she was in school and her scores were evident of her passion for the subject. She worked diligently and gained knowledge about the subject and even gained scholarship which helped her continue further studies in botany. Her encounter with the renowned botanist Ethel Sargent proved beneficial and Sargent provided her with the guidance which was required to enhance the qualities of Agnes as a botanist. She worked with Sargent in her laboratory which provided Arber with immense practical knowledge. She went to become an eminent botanist who did significant research work, which formed the base of many future developments in plant science. She focussed more on plant anatomy and morphology and even established a difference between pure morphology and applied morphology. Her work on floral structure has been an important development in the world of science. She has also made many contributions to the botanical science by her research work, revolving around monocotyledons 

Childhood & Early Life

• Agnes was born to Henry Robertson and Agnes Lucy Turner on 23rd February, 1879, in London. She was the eldest of four children and her siblings were named Donald Struan Robertson, Margaret Robertson and Janet Robertson.
• She received education from ‘North London Collegiate School’, where she cultivated an interest for the subject of botany. Her first research work was published in her school magazine, in 1894.
• Following this she topped the botany paper in her class and earned a scholarship. During her school days she met plant morphologist Ethel Sargent, who later went on to become her guide in botany.
• She enrolled at the ‘University College’, London in 1897 and two years later, she completed B.Sc. Later, she joined the ‘Newnham College’ and earned a degree in Natural Sciences in 1902. She excelled as a student earning many awards and accolades.

  Major Works

  In 1950, she penned the book entitled ‘The Natural Philosophy of Plant Form’ became one of the most renowned works of this remarkable plant morphologist. The book focusses on the transition from research to the establishment of a philosophy. In this book she introduces the ‘partial-shoot theory of the leaf’. The theory says that each component of a plant is either a shoot or a partial-shoot.

  Awards & Achievements

  • In 1946, she was the ‘Fellow of the Royal Society’, and she was the first women botanist to be bestowed with this honour.
  • The ‘Linnean Society of London’ honoured this learned researcher with the ‘Gold Medal.

    Personal Life & Legacy

    • In 1909, she married Edward Alexander Newall Arber, who was a paleobotanist and the couple was blessed with a child named Muriel Agnes Arber.
    • The family shifted to Cambridge and Agnes stayed there until her death on 22 March, 1960.