James Hamlyn Willis

James Hamlyn Willis (28 January 1910 – 10 November 1995) was an Australian botanist. He described 64 new species of plants, and published more than 880 works including the landmark two-volume A Handbook to plants in Victoria between 1962 and 1973.

In 1937 Willis joined the National Herbarium of Victoria and commenced studies at the University of Melbourne, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in 1940.

Botanical collecting Willis was an avid collector of vascular and non-vascular plants, and fungi. Whilst working at the National Herbarium of Victoria, he was able to participate in many field expeditions to various floristic regions in Victoria. Willis also ventured to Western Australia as a member of the Sir Russell Grimwade Expedition in 1947, and to the Recherche Archipelago in 1950. He also collected outside of Australia on various trips made to New Zealand, New Guinea, Europe, Sri Lanka and China.

Recognition In addition to having named new species himself, a species of eucalypt is named after him, Eucalyptus willisii.

Willis was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours for "service to botany, particularly in the field of Australian flora".

Following Willis' death in 1995, from 1996 onwards, the National Herbarium of Victoria has hosted the Jim Willis Studentship in his honour. This is a competitive eight week programme held during the summer where students gain research experience working on a specific research project under the supervision of a herbarium research staff member.

In 2000, the Gladstone Bag belonging to Willis used to collect specimens on his many field expeditions was uncovered in extraordinary circumstances. It is now part of the Victorian School of Forestry museum collection at Creswick.