Parsons, Murray Jury   (1941 - 2011)

Born in New Zealand 21 June 1941; died in Christchurch, NZ on 10 May 2011.

Murray Parsons played an important role in New Zealand phycology and botany, working as a phycologist, herbarium keeper, and ethnobotanist.

He was born in Masterton, New Zealand, on 21 June 1941, son of Harold Thomas Parsons and Ngaru Murray Parsons (née Jury - iwi Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, and hapu Ngati Moe raua ko Ngati Muretu).

Murray studied at Victoria University of Wellington, completing his MSc in 1966 with a thesis entitled 'Studies on Adenocystis utricularis (Phaeophyceae) including Life History, Anatomy, Ecology and Distribution'.

Funded by a British Commonwealth Scholarship, Murray then went to study at the University of Adelaide, SA, under the supervision of Professor Dr H.B.S. Womersley, completing his thesis 'Studies on the Dasyaceae and the Lophothalieae (Rhodomelaceae) of the Rhodophyta' and having his Ph.D. conferred in 1971. He was a postgraduate demonstrator in botany and advanced phycology classes.

Murray was part of the 'golden age' of Womersley's postgraduate students (e.g. Elizabeth Gordon-Mills, Gerry Kraft, U Min-Thein, Bill Woelkerling, Elise Wollaston). Their theses, when published, became instant classics of red algal taxonomy, notable for the quality of the scholarship as well as the beauty of their illustrations.

Murray's illustrations are superb - works of art in addition to being meticulous science.

In April 1971 Murray married Tatjana Surikow (1948-2022), and they enjoyed a wonderful partnership producing 3 children.

In May 1971 Murray returned to New Zealand and joined Botany Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (later Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research New Zealand) where he worked until June 1999.

Murray was appointed as a marine phycologist and held several additional important roles within Botany Division, including from April 1986 as keeper of the Allan Herbarium (largest vascular plant collection in New Zealand) and as ethnobotanist from December 1989. These additional roles meant that in the latter part of his time at Botany Division Murray had to juggle multiple responsibilities, and the time available for his first professional love of phycology was severely constrained.

Source: Extracted from: Obituary, W.A. Nelson (2011)
https://en.x-mol.com/paper/article/1308115914322055168
Portrait Photo: 2005, M.Fagg.

Collecting localities for 'Parsons, M.J.' from AVH (2022)

Data from 613 specimens in Australian herbaria.