Aston,
Helen I. (1934 - )
In a career spanning 34 years (1956-1991) at the National Herbarium of
Victoria, Helen Aston became one of Australia's leading authorities on
freshwater vascular plants. In particular, she has published revisional
work on Juncaginaceae, Menyanthaceae (Nymphoides, Villarsia)
and Pontederiaceae. She is perhaps best known for her pioneering
book Aquatic Plants of Australia (1977), but has also made major
contributions to the Flora of Australia (Podostemaceae, Pontederiaceae
and Sparganiaceae) and in retirement has three more family treatments in
preparation (Juncaginaceae, Limnocharitaceae and Menyantbaceae).
She also has a strong interest in ornithology. Her main herbarium
is at Melbourne (MEL), with duplicates in several other Australian herbaria.
Extracted from: A.E.Orchard (1999) A History of Systematic
Botany in Australia, in Flora of Australia Vol.1, 2nd ed.,
ABRS. [consult for source references]
