E.J.H.Corner

Edred John Henry Corner (12 January 1906 - 14 September 1996) was a botanist who occupied the posts of assistant director at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (1926 - 1946) and Professor of Tropical Botany at the University of Cambridge (1949-1973).

His studies of seed morphology led him to formulate the Durian Theory of the origin of flowering plants. He was also a leading expert on the genus Ficus and the palm family, as well as a distinguished mycologist.

Among his many academic prizes were the Darwin Medal (1960), the Linnaean Gold Medal (1970), and the Japanese International Prize for Biology (1985).

He was a controversial figure, viewed by some as a collaborator with the Japanese during the World War II occupation of Singapore. His account of this time is contained in 'The Marquis - A Tale Of The Syonan-to' (1981). He also wrote an obituary of the Emperor Hirohito for the Royal Society.

Among the many plant species named in his honour are Anisophyllea corneri, Calamus corneri, Eria corneri, and Platyscapa corneri.

External links

• Some vindication of his wartime conduct has emerged
• Corner's House at the Singapore Botanic Gardens