Person

Filson, Rex Bertram (1930 - )

Born
16 March 1930
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
Lichenologist

Summary

Rex Filson was the first lichenologist apppointed to any Australian Herbarium. It was while working as a carpenter with the Australian Antarctic Division that his interest in lichens was stimulated. He became Lichenologist at the National Herbarium of Victoria in 1970. The Herbarium has an unrivalled collection of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic lichens as a result of Filson's visits to Antarctica and Macquarie Island. These collections run to over 10,800 specimens. In his research Filson concentrated on the family Parmeliaceae. In 1976 he was given curatorial responsibility for the Herbarium's bryophyte collections. He published nearly 60 books and papers, many illustrated with his own drawings. These drawings are now in the Library of the Herbarium. The lichen genus Rexiella (Cladoniaceae) was named in his honour.

Details

Chronology

1943 - 1961
Career position - Worked mainly as a carpenter in various parts of Australia
1961 - 1962
Career position - Carpenter with the Antarctic Division, Department of Science in Antarctica
1963 - 1964
Career position - Carpenter and Biologist with the Antarctic Division in Victoria
1964
Career position - Biologist with the Maud Gibson Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne
1964 - 1970
Career position - Seeds collector, National Herbarium of Victoria
1970 - 1975
Career position - Lichenologist, National Herbarium of Victoria
1971
Award - Churchill Fellowship received
1975 - 1980
Career position - Technical Officer, National Herbarium of Victoria
1979
Education - Master of Science (MSc) completed at Monash University in Victoria
1980 - 1988
Career position - Senior Botanist, National Herbarium of Victoria
1982 - 1983
Career position - Australian Botanical Liaison Officer, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
1988
Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), Monash University

Related Corporate Bodies

Related Journals

Published resources

Books

  • Filson, Rex B., The lichens and mosses of MacRobertson Land (Melbourne: Antarctic Division, Department of External Affairs, 1966), 169 pp. Details
  • Filson, Rex B., Checklist of Australian lichens (Melbourne: National Herbarium of Vicoria, 1983), 123 pp. Details
  • Filson, Rex B. and Rogers, R. W., Lichens of South Australia (Adelaide: Government Printer, 1979), 197 pp. Details

Book Sections

  • Filson, Rex B., 'History of Australian lichenology' in Flora of Australia. volume 54 : lichens - introduction, George, Alexander S., ed. (Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service, 1992), pp. 2-10. Details

Journal Articles

  • Filson, Rex B., 'A revision of the lichen genus Cladia Nyl.', Journal of the Hattori Botanical Club, 49 (1981), 1-75. Details
  • Filson, Rex B., 'A contribution to the genus Parmelia (Lichens) in southern Australia', Australian Journal of Botany, 30 (1982), 511-82. Details
  • McClellan, D., 'Rex Filson, lichenologist', Botanic magazine, 3 (1988), 15. Details
  • Smith, Val, 'Biographical sketch - Rex Bertram Filson (1930 - )', New Zealand Botanical Society newsletter, 149 (2022), 19-20. Details

Resources

Rosanne Walker and Helen Cohn

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