Loran M. Whitelock (April 21, 1930 - May 27, 2014) was an American
botanist
Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...
who specialized in
Cycad
Cycads are seed plants that typically have a stout and woody (ligneous) trunk (botany), trunk with a crown (botany), crown of large, hard, stiff, evergreen and (usually) pinnate leaves. The species are dioecious, that is, individual plants o ...
s, a prehistoric plant that once dominated the planet and is now somewhat rare and endangered. He was known as a plant collector, plant curator, nursery owner, author, and conservationist.
[The Cone Heads, New York Times, 8-17-2003][Coffee Grower Found Cycad in Rain Forest, Miami Herald, 1-13-2008]
/ref> He was instrumental in promoting cycads as a garden feature in Southern California through his nursery and other contributions. Several plants were named in his honor including '' Encephalartos whitelockii'' and ''Ceratozamia whitelockiana
''Ceratozamia whitelockiana'' is a species of plant in the family Zamiaceae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is known only from Metates and Chiapan in Oaxaca state. Only two subpopulations have been found, with a total population of about 220 ...
''.
Cycad Gardens
He created, owned, managed, curated for, and grew plants for Cycad Gardens. Cycad Gardens is a botanical garden and nursery located on about an acre of land in back of his home in Eagle Rock, CA.[ It contains one of the most extensive collections of Cycads in the world, and is noted for its importance to conservation efforts.][ It was described by the Los Angeles Times as “monumental and weird… walking through it is like traveling back in time to Jurassic days”.][The Plants that Time Forgot, Susan Heeger, , Los Angeles Times Magazine, 4-11-1993]
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Publications
He published extensively on Cycads and wrote “The Cycads”, a standard reference on the subject and described by the Miami Harald as “encyclopedic”.[Slow Growing Cycad requires little care, Miami Herald, 9-12-2004]
/ref> Cycad Gardens was started in 1972.[Loran M. Whitelock, Timber Press Author Profile]
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Education and career
Whitelock earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology, studying in botany, zoology, and microbiology. He worked for the Los Angeles City and County Health Departments then became a landscape designer in Los Angeles.[
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Expeditions and conservationism
Whitelock was known for his extensive travels to remote locations in search of cycads, and for his conservation efforts, described by the Los Angeles Times as “a local legend”.[A Jurassic Park of their Own; Ancient cycads attract a subculture of collectors devoted to the quirky plants, Jeff Spurrier, Los Angeles Times, 3-22-2007]
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Whitelock was a frequent commentator on theft of valuable rare and endangered plants from the wild, and of very valuable specimens from private collections.][Crooks, Collectors, Preying on a Plant, Miami Herald, 11-23-2004][Smugglers of Rare Plants Weeded Out, San Diego Union Tribune, 8-20-2001][Mystery of the Missing Cycads Disclosed, Miami Herald, 9-10-2002] 1,500 of Whitelock's cycads were donated to the nearby Huntington Library, Huntington Botanical Gardens after his death, forming one of the largest collections of cycads in the world.
References
Further readingThe Cycads by M. Loran Whitelock
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2014 deaths
American botanists
1930 births