Winifred M. A. Brooke
| Winifred M. A. Brooke | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1893 Stroud Green, London. |
| Died | 4 November 1975 Alton, Hampshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | botany |
Winifred Mary Adelaide Brooke (16 February 1893 - 4 November 1975) was a British botanist, illustrator and author who made scientifically significant collections of botany specimens, including in the Bolivian Andes. The plant genus Misbrookea was named in her honour by Vicki Funk.
Brooke was born on the 16th February 1893 in Stroud Green, London, England. She was the daughter of Margaret Ling Brooke (née Livermore) and Rev. Charles William Alfred Brooke. During her childhood she spend time in Switzerland and co-authored a travel book with her mother on the subject.
Brooke was the President of the Alton Natural History Society, was elected as a member of the British Entomological and Natural History Society in 1930, and was elected to the Linnean Society of London on the 24th of May 1946.
In 1936 Brooke travelled to the Canary Islands where she collected botanical specimens now held in the Natural History Museum, London, the New York Botanical Garden and the Field Museum. She also travelled to Lesotho collecting and making water colour sketches of plants from 1937 - 1938. While there she made scientifically important botany collections that are held at the Natural History Museum, London. In 1948 Brooke undertook a journey to South America on the encouragement of Dr. John Ramsbottom, of the British Museum Natural History. She travelled first to Bolivia, arriving in December 1948 and staying there until November 1949. Brooke herself acknowledged the assistance of Professor Martín Cárdenas during this time. She then travelled on to Chile. While in South America she established a collection of over 2000 herbarium specimens and discovered numerous species new to science. Brooke also travelled to Sarawak, again collecting specimens as well as discovering species new to science. Some of the specimens she collected in Sarawak were subsequently sold to the Smithsonian Institution.
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