Flora Wambaugh Patterson

Flora Wambaugh Patterson (September 15, 1847–February 5, 1928) was an American mycologist, and the first female plant pathologist hired by the United States Department of Agriculture. She ran the US National Fungus Collections for almost thirty years, adding over 90,000 fungal specimens and expanding the collection six-fold, making it the largest of its kind in the world. Patterson and her team discovered several species of disease-causing fungi that infect plants and pose a significant threat to agriculture. Although modern agricultural practices can now keep many of these threats in check, pathogenic fungi still have the ability to decimate crop yield with devastating consequences. She studied fungi as a hobby during her childhood.

Patterson received a master’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan Female College when she was 42, and after her husband’s death, she continued her studies at the University of Iowa, where her brother was a professor. Undeterred, Patterson followed her brother and relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts. She began studying at Radcliffe College, the all-women’s sister school to Harvard College.

Among other responsibilities, Patterson was in charge of identifying new fungal pathogens and led efforts to identify the cause of a chestnut blight that wiped out the iconic chestnut forests in eastern North America as well as the fungus behind potato wart disease, Synchytrium endobioticum. Fearing that the cause might be an invasive pathogen, Patterson and colleagues recommended destroying the cherry trees. The trees were ultimately burned in a massive bonfire on the Mall in Washington D.C. and later replaced by a second shipment from the Mayor of Japan - a collection of trees that can be seen in Washington to this day.

Patterson authored over a dozen publications during her career. The two most popular were bulletins geared toward a general audience called “Mushrooms and Other Common Fungi” and the other “Some common edible and poisonous mushrooms. ” Both included descriptions of edible fungi and cooking recipes, including one for mushroom catsup.

She was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Fellow of the Botanical Society of America as well as a member of five other professional societies included the American Association of University Women.

Personal life Patterson was married and had two children before her husband died from injuries sustained in a steamboat explosion. When her sons were old enough, she sent them to boarding school so she could pursue her studies. Patterson worked for the USDA for 27 years before retiring at the age of 75. During her tenure, the USDA hired three other female mycologists. She lived the final years of her life in New York City with one of her sons and died in 1928 at age 80.

Selected publications Patterson, F. W. 1894. Species of Taphrina parasitic on Populus. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Advan. Sci. 43:293-294. Patterson, F. W. 1895. A study of North American parasitic Exoascaceae. Iowa Univ. Bull. Lab. Nat. Hist. 3:89-135. Patterson, F. W., Charles, V. K., and Veihmeyer, F. J. 1910. Some fungous diseases of economic importance. I.-Miscellaneous Diseases. II. Pineapple rot caused by Thielaviopsis paradoxa. USDA, Bureau of Plant Industry, Bull. No. 171. Patterson, F. W., and Charles, V. K. 1915. Mushrooms and other common fungi. USDA Bulletin No. 175. Patterson, F. W., and Charles, V. K. 1917. Some common edible and poisonous mushrooms. USDA Farmer’s Bulletin No. 796