Abel Joel Grout (1867–1947) was an American bryologist, an expert on pleurocarpous mosses, and founding member of the Sullivant Moss Society.[1]

Abel Joel Grout
Dr. A. J. Grout in an herbarium, ca. 1900
BornMarch 24, 1867
DiedMarch 27, 1947 (1947-03-28) (aged 80)
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Vermont
Columbia University
Known forBryology
Scientific career
FieldsBotany
InstitutionsCurtis High School
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Doctoral advisorElizabeth Gertrude Britton
Author abbrev. (botany)Grout

Biography edit

Grout was born near Newfane, Vermont. In 1890, he received his Bachelor of Philosophy from the University of Vermont, graduating with his childhood friend Marshall Avery Howe.[2] After acquiring his doctorate at Columbia University in 1897, he turned to teaching at various locations. From 1908 to 1930, he taught at Curtis High School in Staten Island. After his retirement, he continued to teach summer bryology courses at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.[3]

His primary focus was mosses, which he developed an interest in during high school. Initially, his doctoral research concerned marine algae under Nathaniel Lord Britton, but he switched to the study of the moss genus Brachythecium under Elizabeth Gertrude Britton.[3]

Together, Grout and Mrs. Britton founded the Sullivant Moss Society, now called the American Bryological and Lichenological Society. He served as the first president of the organization.[4] Grout was also the first editor of The Bryologist, which evolved from a serial started with Willard Nelson Clute. He wrote numerous papers on the topic of mosses.[3]

Grout died in Bradenton, Florida.[3]

Selected publications edit

  • Grout, Abel Joel (1903). Mosses with Hand-lens and Microscope. Published by the author.[5]
  • Grout, Abel Joel (1905). Mosses with a Hand-lens. Published by the author.[6]
  • Grout, Abel Joel (1916). The Moss Flora of New York City and Vicinity. Published by the author.[7]
  • Grout, Abel Joel (1928). Moss flora of North America, north of Mexico, Volume 1.
  • Grout, Abel Joel (1933). Moss flora of North America, north of Mexico, Volume 2.

The standard author abbreviation Grout is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ Grout, Abel Joel (1867-1947) at JSTOR
  2. ^ Schnooberger, Irma (1947). "Moss Rock Cabin". The Bryologist. 50 (2): 213–217. doi:10.1639/0007-2745(1947)50[213:MRC]2.0.CO;2. JSTOR 3239259.
  3. ^ a b c d Steere, William Campbell (1948). "Abel Joel Grout (1867–1947)". The Bryologist. 51 (4): 201–212. doi:10.1639/0007-2745(1948)51[201:AJG]2.0.CO;2. JSTOR 3239159.
  4. ^ Presidents of ABLS, The American Bryological and Lichenological Society, retrieved 2019-09-28.
  5. ^ Macoun, John (September 1906). "Review of Mosses with Hands-lens and Microscope by Abel Grout". The Ottawa Naturalist. XX (6): 132.
  6. ^ "Review of Mosses with a Hands-lens by Abel Grout". The Ottawa Naturalist. XX (2): 44. May 1906.
  7. ^ Holzinger, John M. (March 1917). "Review of The Moss Flora of New York City and Vicinity by A. J. Grout". The Bryologist. XX (2): 28–29.
  8. ^ International Plant Names Index.  Grout.

Further reading edit