P006590 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2019-10-01 human Helen Cohn updated 2025-03-18 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P006590b.htm person Symon David Eric AACR2 13 October 1920 18 December 2011 Place of Birth London, United Kingdom Place of Death Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Botanist David Symon was a botanist who for nearly 30 years was Curator of the Arboretum and Herbarium at the Waite Agricultural Research Institute. During this period he greatly increased the size of its collection of living trees while at the same time introducing management practices that significantly reduced the amount of water and watering required. His research focused on the taxonomy and chemical analysis of plants, often those of agricultural importance. Symon published landmark studies of South Australian Acacia and the Solanaceae of Australia and New Guinea. Other major studies were in the families Rosaceae, Frankeniaceae, Goodeniaceae and Leguminosae. Symon was interested in conservation issues, conducting extensive surveys in areas of floral significance and serving two terms as President of the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia. On his retirement Symon arranged for the transfer of the Waite Herbarium to the State Herbarium of South Australia, which now holds over 24,000 of his specimens. 1985 Career position - Reader in Agronomy, Waite Agricultural Research Institute 1922 1922 Life event - Migrated to Australia with his family 1951 1951 Education - Bachelor of Agricultural Science (BAgSc), University of Adelaide 1951 1956 Career position - Agrostologist, Waite Agricultural Research Institute 1952 1956 Career position - Lecturer in Agronomy, University of Adelaide 1956 1962 Career position - Systematic Botanist, Waite Agricultural Research Institute 1956 1985 Career position - Curator, Waite Arboretum and Herbarium 1962 Career position - Senior Lecturer in Botany, Waite Agricultural Research Institute 1962 1986 Career position - Member, Nature Conservation Society of South Australia 1962 2011 Award - Fellow, Royal Society of South Australia 1972 1994 Career position - Member of Committee, Handbooks of the Flora and Fauna of South Australia 1973 2000 Career position - Inaugural Member Australian Systematic Botany 1978 2002 Career position - Member, Editorial Committee, Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 1980 1984 Career position - Member, Editorial Committee, Flora of Australia 1985 1985 Life event - Retired 1985 2011 Career position - Honorary Research Associate, State Herbarium of South Australia 1994 1994 Career position - Chair of the Organising Committee, 4th International Solanaceae Conference, Adelaide 1996 1996 Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Adelaide 2000 2011 Award - Life Member, Australian Systematic Botany Society 2010 2010 Career position - Corresponding Member, Botanical Society of America State Herbarium of South Australia (1954 - )

Honorary Research Associate 1985 - 2011; the Herbarium holds 24,000 specimens collected by Symon

 Royal Society of South Australia (1880 - )

Fellow 1962 - 2011

 Waite Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide (1924 - 1991)

Senior Lecturer in Botany (later Reader in Agronomy) 1962 - 1985; Curator, Waite Arboretum and Herbarium 1956 - 1985

 Australian Systematic Botany Society Inc (1973 - 2011)

Inaugural Member 1973; Life Member 2000 - 2011

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 'Symon, David Eric', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Symon, David Eric Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: The Waite Arboretum, past and present Gardner, Jennifer and Symon, David The Waite Arboretum, past and present 2004 Australian garden history 15 4 15-9 Journal Article: Remnant horticultural plants at the site of the former Newmans Nursery 1854 - 1932 Taplin, R. T.; and Symon, D. E. Remnant horticultural plants at the site of the former Newmans Nursery 1854 - 1932 2008 Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 22 73-96 Review: Museum of Economic Botany Symon, David Museum of Economic Botany 2010 Australian Systematic Botany Society Bulletin 143 17-8 Book: Sturt Pea; a Most Splendid Plant Symon, David Sturt Pea; a Most Splendid Plant Adelaide Board of the Botanic Garden and State Herbarium 2007 Journal Article: Wildflowers of South Australia (1861) by Fanny de Mole Symon, David Wildflowers of South Australia (1861) by Fanny de Mole 2003 Archives of Natural History 30 1 139-48 Conference Paper: History of the Waite Arboretum and Waite Herbarium Gardner, Jennifer A. History of the Waite Arboretum and Waite Herbarium Melbourne Australian Systematic Botany Society 1990 History of Systematic Botany in Australasia: Proceedings of a Symposium Held at the University of Melbourne, 25-27 May 1988 Short, P.S. 29-36 Journal Article: Life membership awarded to Dr D. E. Symon Barker, Robyn Life membership awarded to Dr D. E. Symon 2000 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 104 11-2 Journal Article: David Eric Symon (1920-2011) Barker, R. M. David Eric Symon (1920-2011) 2013 Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 26 71-96 Journal Article: Dr David Symon and the Australian Systematic Botany Society Barker, R. M. Dr David Symon and the Australian Systematic Botany Society 1997 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 90 32-4 Journal Article: David Symon (1920-2011) Barker, R.; and Barker, W. R. David Symon (1920-2011) 2012 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 151 11-9 Journal Article: David Eric Symon Anon David Eric Symon 2000 Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 105 1-22 Journal Article: Waite Arboretum - an enduring gift Gardner, J. A. and Delaporte, K. L. Waite Arboretum - an enduring gift 2023 Swainsona 30 69-76