George Albert Llano

George Albert Llano (22 November 1911 – 9 February 2003), born Jorge Alberto Cecilio Perez y Llano, was a Cuban-born American polar explorer and botanist who specialized in the field of lichenology. He was an expert in the Umbilicariaceae.[1]

George Albert Llano
Jorge Alberto Cecilio Perez y Llano
Born(1911-11-22)22 November 1911
Havana, Cuba
Died9 February 2003(2003-02-09) (aged 91)
Akademik Ioffe, Argentine Sea
EducationCornell University
Columbia University
Washington University
SpouseBarbara Llano
Scientific career
FieldsLichenology, botany
InstitutionsNational Academy of Sciences
National Science Foundation
Doctoral advisorCarroll William Dodge
Author abbrev. (botany)Llano

Early life

Llano was born in Havana, Cuba in either 1910, according to baptismal records, or 1911, based on legal records. He immigrated to the United States in 1918. He obtained his undergraduate degree at Cornell University in 1935, and his master's degree at Teachers College, Columbia University in 1939. In 1949, he completed his Ph.D. in botany at Washington University in St. Louis under Carroll William Dodge.[2]

Career

Llano took various jobs across the country before settling at the National Academy of Sciences and working on the International Geophysical Year.[2] His experience in Antarctica led him to work for the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs in 1961. In 1972, he was promoted to Chief Scientist. His work in the Antarctic Biology and Medicine division was instrumental in establishing permanent Antarctic stations. He retired in 1977.[3]

After his retirement, Llano continued lecturing, guiding expeditions, and fundraising for researchers.[4] Among his beneficiaries were Ivan Mackenzie Lamb and Henry Andrew Imshaug, who undertook notable lichenological expeditions.[2]

Llano died on 9 February 2003 of influenza while cruising on the Akademik Ioffe.[3]

Legacy

The whale genus Llanocetus is named for Llano.[3] Mount Llano was also named in his honor.[5] Carroll Dodge named some lichen species after him, including Buellia llanoi C.W.Dodge (1968),[6] Lecania llanoi C.W.Dodge (1965),[7] Physcia llanoi C.W.Dodge (1965),[7] and Thelidium llanoi C.W.Dodge (1968).[6] His monograph on the Umbilicariaceae is considered a seminal work in the field of lichenology.[2] He has been credited for introducing the terms gyrodisc, leiodisc, and omphalodisc to refer to different types of fruiting bodies encountered in the Umbilicariaceae.[8]

References
  1. "George A. Llano collection". vilda.alaska.edu. University of Alaska Fairbanks. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  2. Brodo, Irwin M. (2004). "George Albert Llano. 1910-2003". The Bryologist. 107 (3): 388–391. doi:10.1639/0007-2745(2004)107[0388:GAL]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0007-2745. JSTOR 3244875. S2CID 85772467. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  3. Pleasant, Matthew (16 February 2003). "George A. Llano, 91, Botanist". The Ledger. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  4. Bernstein, Adam (15 February 2003). "Polar Authority George A. Llano". Washington Post. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  5. "Mount Llano". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
  6. Dodge, C.W. (1968). "Lichenological notes on the flora of the Antarctic continent and the subantarctic islands. VII.-VIII". Nova Hedwigia. 15: 300, 327.
  7. Dodge, Carroll W. (1965). "Lichenological notes on the flora of the Antarctic continent and the subantarctic uslands: VI. New taxa from the Antarctic continent and adjacent islands". Transactions of the American Microscopical Society. 84 (4): 507–529. doi:10.2307/3224798. JSTOR 3224798.
  8. Mitchell, M.E. (2014). "De Bary's legacy: the emergence of differing perspectives on lichen symbiosis" (PDF). Huntia. 15 (1): 5–22 [15].
  9. International Plant Names Index.  Llano.
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