Henry William Ravanel (1814 - 1887)
Back to Author Index
Biography
Sources
Further Sources
Selected publications
Species
Biography
1814 May 19, born in Berkeley, South Carolina
graduates from South Carolina College, manages his plantation in Saint John's Parish; collects plants in his spare time
1835 marries Elizabeth Gaillard Snowden
1841 serious interest in cryptogamic plants begins
1853 moves to Aiken, South Carolina
1855 Elizabeth dies
marries Mary Huger Dawson
1887 July 17th, dies in Aiken
I should mention that I've also seen his name given as William Henry Ravanel.
Ravanel's main contribution to mycology are the sets of exsiccati that he issued, the most complete ever (still, I believe) issued from this country. I have been unable to locate any papers or articles by him. Apparently his new names were published in his exsiccati - - an ideal situation, with an actual specimen accompanying the new name! His first centuries of exsiccati were issued under the impetus of financial ruin brought on by the Civil War. He was rescued from this poverty a few years later by a series of government appointments to various botanical posts.
Like Lesquereux, Ravanel was hearing-disabled; he tended to avoid face-to-face contact with people, but he carried on a lively correspondence with Cooke, Berkeley, and Ellis. He built up a strong friendship with Moses Ashley Curtis through correspondence, and they often visited and collected together.
Back to top
Sources
Harry Baker Humphrey (1961) Makers of North American Botany
Nancy Smith Weber & Alexander Hanchett Smith (1985) A Field Guide to Southern Mushrooms
Back to top
Further Sources
Anon (1887) "Obituary of Ravanel" in Journal of Mycology
N. E. Stevens (1932) "The Mycological Work of Henry W. Ravanel" in Isis
Back to top
Selected Publications
Henry William Ravanel (1865) Fungi Carolini Exsiccati 5 vol.The five "volumes" are actually five centuries of a hundred fungi each.
Henry William Ravanel (1878 - 1882) Fungi Exsiccati Americani 8 vol.
Back to top
Species
Leucocoprinus fragilissimus (Ravanel) Patouillard
Back to top
