Douglas Verdon

Douglas "Doug" Verdon (13 February 1920 – 31 July 2000) was a British‑born Australian horticulturist and lichenologist whose work expanded knowledge of the genus Leptogium and other Australasian lichens. Best known for his long association with the Australian National Botanic Gardens and his post‑retirement research at the Australian National University, he published new species, co‑described a new genus, and mentored many colleagues in cryptogamic botany. Several lichen taxa have been named in his honour.

Biography

Verdon was born in Wallasey, near Liverpool, and spent most of his childhood in the National Children's Home on the Isle of Man, leaving at fourteen to labour during the Great Depression before a brief period living rough in London.