This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Granitethighs (talk | contribs) at 08:24, 7 May 2008 (←Created page with 'My name is '''Roger Spencer'''. In my professional life I am a horticultural taxonomist, a sort of academic gardener with an interest in botany, my main occupation ...'). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 08:24, 7 May 2008 by Granitethighs (talk | contribs) (←Created page with 'My name is '''Roger Spencer'''. In my professional life I am a horticultural taxonomist, a sort of academic gardener with an interest in botany, my main occupation ...')(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)My name is Roger Spencer. In my professional life I am a horticultural taxonomist, a sort of academic gardener with an interest in botany, my main occupation being the identification, description and classification of cultivated plants - although in recent times I seem to have become more preoccupied with "sustainability". I work in the Identification Service at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. I have worked at these Gardens just about a lifetime (since 1972 ... wow that's a long time) in various positions from Gardener Grade 1 to Senior Horticultural Scientist. On the work front I guess my main contribution has been the 5-volume Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia and a book on Plant Names. Although a horticultural botanist I have worked on the Australian native flora and, with a colleague, described 4 new species of Callistemon and written the Callistemon treatments for the Flora of New South Wales and Flora of Victoria (also Melaleuca account).
Granitethighs? Well, I started off with my full name but noticed that nobody seems to do that ... so I went all shy and, for some reason remembered an old school nick-name. I was good at sport (then) and that accounts for the alias, my other nick-name (Flower Sniffer) related to my interest in botany. Fortunately being good at sport protected me from too much hassle though. Can't be bothered changing this alias now.
I’ve watched (from the sidelines) Misplaced Pages grow into a really useful information source since 2001. It is great to contribute to a not-for-profit combined effort like this with all its warts – bit like society itself. Nice to think that we can all struggle along together to do something worthwhile without being paid for it.
I am too busy to do much Wikipeding at the moment - but, with retirement not too far away, I might be able to spend a little more time doing this sort of thing. I have contributed to the following articles:
Cultigen
When possible I will contribute to:
Common names