Obituary notes and biographies

We are very sorry to learn that Mr J.M. Black, the father of South Australian botany, passed away suddenly but in full harness after a short illness in his 97th year, medio December 1951. Dr Black was born in Wigtown, Scotland, and received his early education there, finishing in Dresden, Germany. He arrived in South Australia in 1877 and farmed for 5 years. Between 1883 and 1902 he held varied and finally important positions on the staff of ”Hansard”, ”The Register”, and ”The Advertiser”. Having achieved the highest position possible in this field he retired to devote full time leisure to the study of native and naturalised plants growing in S. Australia. He achieved considerable fame for by 1929 he had completed his four part work ”Flora of South Australia”, one of the most critical Floras of that continent. In 1930 he attended the International Botanical Congress and the Linnean Society made him an associate. During subsequent years he was awarded many honours by various Australian scientific associations some of which include the Sir Joseph Vercoe Medal, Mueller Medal, Natural History Medallion, and the Clarke Memorial Medal. He was awarded an M.B.E. in 1942. In 1927 he was appointed honorary lecturer in systematic botany at the University of Adelaide. At the age of 80 he produced part one of the 2nd edition of his Flora, part two coming out in 1948.