Harold Norman Moldenke

Harold Norman Moldenke, also known as simply Moldenke (1909–1996) was an American botanist/taxonomist. His expertise was largely in the study of Verbenaceae, Avicenniaceae, Stilbaceae, Dicrastylidaceae, Symphoremaceae, Nyctanthaceae and Eriocaulaceae.

Early life Moldenke was the son of Charles E. and Sophia (Heins) Moldenke. His father was a noted Egyptologist whose translation of the hieroglyphics on Cleopatra's Needle he reprinted. Harold was born in Watchung, New Jersey, in 1909, and earned a bachelor's degree from Susquehanna University in 1929. after 12 years of research. Later, Moldenke took a job in botanical and ecological education as director of the now-named Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside, New Jersey. He was also a professor of botany at the now-named Kean University in Union, New Jersey, and taught enrichment courses at Westfield and Livingston Adult Schools in New Jersey. In 1967, Moldenke left Trailside and accepted a professorship at the now-named William Paterson College. In 1984, he sold the most of his herbarium, papers and books to the University of Texas. Moldenke died at Corvallis, Oregon on January 7, 1996.

Honors In 1969, Moldenke was named an Honorary Life Member of the Torrey Botanical Club. In 1970, he was made Honorary Curator of New York Botanical Garden.