Brian Molloy (botanist)

Brian Molloy ONZM
Molloy in 2017
Born	Brian Peter John Molloy (1930-08-12) 12 August 1930 (age 91) Wellington, New Zealand
Education	Marist Brothers' High School, Palmerston North
Alma mater	Canterbury University College (BSc, MSc) Lincoln College (PhD)
Spouse(s)	Barbara Anita O'Neill ​ ​ (m. 1957⁠–⁠2017)​
Children	Four
Scientific career
Institutions	Department of Agriculture Landcare Research
Thesis	The autecology of sweet brier (Rosa rubiginosa L.) (1966)
Doctoral advisor	Reinhart Langer
Influences	Henry Connor[1]
Rugby player Rugby career
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Halfback All Black No. 588 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1950–51 1955–58 Manawatu Canterbury 5 23 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1957 New Zealand 0 (0)

Brian Peter John Molloy ONZM (born 12 August 1930) is a New Zealand plant ecologist, conservationist, and former rugby union player.

Early life, education and family[]

Born in Wellington on 12 August 1930,^[2] and orphaned at a young age, Molloy grew up in Waikanae and Palmerston North.^[3] He was educated at Marist Brothers' High School in Palmerston North, and then completed a Diploma in Agriculture at Massey Agricultural College in 1950.^[3] He went on to gain a Diploma in Teaching from Christchurch Teachers' College, and studied botany at Canterbury University College, where he graduated BSc in 1957, and MSc with first-class honours in 1960.^[3][4] The title of his master's thesis was A study in subalpine plant ecology on Fog Peak Ridge, Porters Pass, Canterbury.^[5] In 1966, Molloy completed a PhD on the autecology of sweet brier, Rosa rubiginosa, under the supervision of Reinhart Langer at Lincoln College, at that time a constituent college of the University of Canterbury.^[1]

In 1957, Molloy married Barbara Anita O'Neill, and the couple went on to have four children.^[3] Barbara Molloy died in 2017.^[6]

Rugby union career[]

A halfback, Molloy made his debut for Manawatu at a provincial level while still a teenager, and later represented Canterbury when he was a university student in Christchurch. He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, on their 1957 tour of Australia, playing in five games and scoring one try. However, he did not appear in any of the test matches. From 1975 to 1978, Molloy served as a New Zealand Universities selector.^[2]

Scientific career[]

After his master's studies, Molloy worked for the Department of Agriculture as a research officer, investigating tussock grasslands, pasture ecology and weeds. In 1969, he moved to the botany division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)—later known as Landcare Research—where he remained until his retirement in 1995. At DSIR / Landcare Research, he specialised in plant taxonomy, nature conservation, and the history of soil and vegetation.^[3] Subsequently, Molloy has worked as a botanical and conservation consultant, and has maintained his relationship with Landcare Research as a research associate.^[7]

Molloy has authored or co-authored over 100 scientific papers, and several books, and is regarded as the leading authority on New Zealand orchids.^[7] His canonical text, Native Orchids of New Zealand, written with J.H. Johns, was published in 1983.^[8]

Taxonomist[]

The standard author abbreviation Molloy is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.^[9]

Conservation activities[]

Between 1989 and 1998, Molloy was a director of the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust. He then served as the trust's high-country representative until 2012. He has also been active in many other conservation groups, leading to the establishment of new, and extension of existing, protected areas and reserves.^[7]

Honours and awards[]

Molloy was awarded the Loder Cup in 1990, in recognition of his contributions to conservation and the study of New Zealand native plants.^[3] He received a community service award in 1992 and a civic award in 1995, both from the Christchurch City Council.^[7] Also in 1995, Molloy received the Charles Fleming Award for Environmental Achievement from the Royal Society of New Zealand.^[7]

In the ONZM, Molloy was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to conservation.^[10]

For his contributions to the science, land and people of the high country, Molloy received the high country committee of Federated Farmers award in 2000; and in 2006 he was accorded a lifetime conservation achievement award by the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. The following year, he was named as an associate of honour by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, in recognition of his distinguished service to horticulture in New Zealand. In 2010, Molloy was awarded the Bledisloe Trophy by the Canterbury Botanical Society, for his contribution to New Zealand botany.^[7]

Molloy was elected as a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2011, for the promotion and advancement of science and technology in New Zealand. Also in 2011, he received the Hatch Medal of the New Zealand Native Orchid Group, for his outstanding contribution to orchidology in New Zealand.^[7]

Honorific eponyms[]

Two endemic plants have been named in Molloy's honour: the Cook Strait kōwhai, Sophora molloyi, in 2001; and the hidden spider orchid, Molloybas cryptanthus, in 2002.^[3][7]

In 2012, the Brian Molloy QEII National Trust Scholarship for doctoral research in New Zealand ecology was established.^[7]

References[]