Ursula Katharine Duncan

Ursula Katherine Duncan (17 September 1910 – 27 January 1985) was a botanist with a special interest in mosses and lichens, and a lifelong love and knowledge of flowers. She was entirely self-educated in botany, and corresponded with numerous professional and amateur colleagues, who contributed to her scientific development. She published on bryology, lichenology and vascular plants. The University of Dundee awarded her an honorary doctorate in 1969 for her work as a plant taxonomist and soon after, she was chosen to receive the Linnaean Society's H. H. Bloomer Award for 1973. As well as pursuing her botanical interests, she took charge of the Duncan family's Scottish estate.

Early life and family

She was born on 17 September 1910 in Kensington to Dorothy Duncan née Weston and Commander John Alexander Duncan CB RN. The family, including her younger sister Frances, lived in London when the girls were little but moved to their estate at Parkhill near Arbroath when she was nine. Soon after that she started to take an interest in plants, accompanying her father on expeditions to study flowers, and joining the Wild Flower Society. She had a governess for a time, but studied independently too, getting a distinction in classics when she took her School Certificate exams at 15. Later, she followed this up with independent study leading to external degrees in classics from the University of London: a BA in 1952 and MA in 1956. She was also a talented pianist with a good grasp of music theory, and qualified as LRAM.

Her mother was born Beatrice Dorothy Percy Weston. Her father had a successful naval career as a senior officer. In the year Ursula Duncan was born he started a War Office job in London, from which he retired in 1919. For much of his daughter's life he was a locally prominent landowner with a specialist interest in breeding Suffolk sheep. Frances Louise was Mrs. Frances Gunner at the time of her sister's death.

Botany

Mosses In 1931 she joined the Botanical Society of the British Isles and in 1938 joined the British Bryological Society, of which she was made an honorary member in 1980. Sphagnum species were a particular interest, and Duncan became a leading mid-20th century British authority on these.

Her correspondence with other bryologists helped her initially when John Bishop Duncan encouraged her studies, and then she became known as a generous, knowledgeable and conscientious correspondent with her botanical friends and acquaintances, including people who asked for help with identifying specimens. It is given to those who have made outstanding service to the society.

Shortly before her death at Arbroath on 27 January 1985 her sizeable collection of vascular plants with taxonomic significance was given to the Dundee Museum. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has her cryptogam collection including important lichen records and other material.