Frodin, David
Job Title
Honorary Research Associate
Department
Herbarium, Library, art & Archives
Section
Regional Teams
Science Teams:
Foreign Language(s):
French, Melanesian Pidgin, German, RussianQualifications & Appointments
BS, Univ. Chicago, 1963
MS, Univ. Tennessee, 1964
MSc, Univ. Liverpool, 1964
PhD, Univ. Cambridge, 1971.
Taxonomist, Chelsea Physic Garden
Lecturer (1971–78), Senior Lecturer (1979–82) and Associate Professor (1983–85), University of Papua New Guinea
IUCN-SSC Temperate Trees Specialist Group.
Role
Systematics of Araliaceae; world flora documentation; flora of Malesia; tree taxonomy and conservation; botanical bibliography, history and theory.
Preparation of a databased series of world checklists and bibliographies of seed plant families (print and electronic) as contributions towards a global species inventory (with staff at Kew and elsewhere). Monographic studies (partly collaborative) in Araliaceae, notably of the large pantropical genus Schefflera (>900 spp), and family treatments in floras and other outlets; also, contributions towards improved phylogeny and family delimitation within Apiales. Assistance with the curation of Araliaceae in the Kew Herbarium as well as (in the past) determinations and advice to other Kew departments. Floristics and biogeography of greater Malesia (notably Papuasia). Bibliography and history of floras, botanical exploration and institutions. Tree taxonomy and conservation. General problems of very large genera.
Selected Recent Publications
Frodin, D.G.; Lowry II, Porter P.; Plunkett, Gregory M. (2010). Schefflera (Araliaceae): taxonomic history, overview and progress. Plant Diversity and Evolution.128 (3-4): 561 - 595.
- Plunkett, G.M., Lowry, P.P., Ii, Frodin, D.G. & Wen, J. (2005). Phylogeny and geography of Schefflera: pervasive polyphyly in the largest genus of Araliaceae. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 92 (2): 202–224.
- Frodin, D.G. (2004). History and concepts of big plant genera. Taxon 53 (3): 753–766.
- Frodin, D.G. & Govaerts, R. (2004). World Checklist and Bibliography of Araliaceae (2003). Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. 444 pp.
- Govaerts, R.,& Frodin, D.G. (2002). World Checklist and Bibliography of Araceae and Acoraceae. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 560 pp.
- Frodin, D.G (2001). Guide to standard floras of the world, 2nd edition. CUP, Cambridge. 1100 pp.
Selected Earlier Publications
- Govaerts, R., Frodin, D.G. & Radcliffe-Smith, A. (2000). World Checklist and Bibliography of Euphorbiaceae (and Pandaceae). Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. 1–4: 1621 pp.
- Frodin, D.G. (1997). Araliaceae. In Steyermark, J.A., Berry, P.E. & Holst, B.K. (eds) Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana 3: 1–31. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.
- Frodin, D.G. Guide to standard floras of the world (1984). CUP, Cambridge. 619 pp
- Frodin, D.G. (1975). Studies in Schefflera (Araliaceae): the Cephaloschefflera complex. J. Arnold Arbor 56: 427–448.
- Frodin, D.G. & Heywood, V.H. (1968). Laburnum, Podocytisus, Cytisus, Chamaecytisus, Chronanthus. In Tutin, T.G. et al., (eds), Flora Europaea 2. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 86–90 & 90–93.
