> [!cite] BHL link: this entry starts at [page 291](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33265968) of TL-2 Suppl. IV
> Author links: [IPNI](https://www.ipni.org/a/1757-1) LSID 1757-1, [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4230109) QID Q4230109
> Support pages: [[Abbreviations|abbreviations]], [[Layout key|layout key]], [[Cite TL-2|cite TL-2]]
### Author
Compton, Robert Harold (1886-1979), British botanist who settled in South Africa 1919, educated at Cambridge University 1905-1909, demonstrator in botany at id. 1911-1913, in a field expedition to New Caledonia 1914, on active service 1915-1918, moved to South Africa 1919 as director of the National Botanical Gardens of S. Africa at Kirstenbosch ("the Garden of a Nation"), professor of botany at the University of Cape Town 1919-1953, retired and settled in Swaziland, D. Sc. hon. Univ. Cape Town 1968.
**Abbreviated name**: *Compton* \[standard form in IPNI: *Compton*\]
#### Herbarium and types
[[Collection BOL|BOL]], [[Collection NBG|NBG]] and [[Collection K|K]], Nos. 2501-32.550, "Compton Herbarium", (see IH 1 (ed. 8): 293-294), New Caledonia collection (1-2500) at [[Collection BM|BM]], further material of Swaziland in [[Collection PRE|PRE]], [[Collection NBG|NBG]] and [[Collection K|K]], Fl. Zambesiaca at [[Collection NBG|NBG]]. – Further collections: [[Collection MEL|MEL]], [[Collection PRE|PRE]]. – See J.P. Rourke 1980, p. vi.
#### Bibliography and biography
Barnhart 1: 371; BJI 2: 30; BL 1: 28, 119, 291; Bossert p. 81; Hortus 3: 1190; IF suppl. 3: 206; IH 1 (ed. 6): 356, (ed. 8): 293-294, 2: 135; Kew 1: 598-599; Langman p. 213; LS suppl. 5455; NI 390n-na.
#### Biofile
- Anon., S. Afr. Forum bot. 3(8): 5. 1965 (on his 79th birthday on 6 Aug 1965), 10(12): 1. 1972 (hon. member S.A.A.B.); 17(3): 25. Jul 1979 (note on death (92 yrs.)).
- Bullock, A.A., Bibl. S. Afr. Bot. 23. 1978.
- Codd, L.E., Bothalia 13(1-2): 244-245. 1980 (obit., portr.).
- Compton, R.H., *in* Veld & Flora, Kirstenbosch 63(1): 4-7. 1977, 63(2): 6-9. 1977 ("... distant reminiscences").
- Exell, A.W. and G.A. Hayes, Kirkia 6(1): 90. 1967 (Fl. Zambesiaca colls. at NBG).
- Gager, C.S., Brooklyn Bot. Gard. Rec. 27(3): 327. 1938 (director Natl. Bot. Gard. S. Afr. 1919-\[1953 ?\]), 328 (id. Karoo-Garden).
- Gunn, M. and L.E. Codd, Bot. Expl. S. Afr. 121-122. 1981.
- Hutchinson, J., Botanist South Africa 30. 1946 (portr.).
- Karstens, M.C., The old Company's Garden at the Cape, Cape Town 1951, p. xi, 63.
- Levyns, M.R.B., Insnar'd with flowers 48, 51, 63-65, 88, 125, 129, 131, *pl. 16-20.* 1977.
- Rourke, J.P., J. S. Afr. Bot. 46(1): i-vii. Jan 1980 (biogr., portr., list of publ.).
- Rycroft, H.B., Veld & Flora 65: 74-75. 1979 (obit., portr.).
- Traub, H., Herbertia 6: 25-26. 1939 (portr.).
- Tölken, H.R., Ind. herb. austro-afr. 59. 1971.
- White, A. and B.L. Sloane, The Stapelieae, ed. 2. 1: 132. 1937.
#### Outside our period
- (1): R.H. Compton, *An annotated check list of the Flora of Swaziland*, Suppl. vol. vi of J. S. Afr. Bot., Mbabane, Swaziland 1966, 191 p., 2 maps. – See Taxon 15: 331. 11 Nov 1966.
- (2) Rice, E.G. and R.H. Compton, *Wild flowers of the Cape of Good Hope*, Kirstenbosch 1951, pp. 24, vi, with 250 col. plates. Qu.
- (3) Editor of Journal of South African Botany 1(1935)-19(1953).
#### Eponymy
*Comptonella* (Rutaceae) and *Comptonanthus* (Compositae), see ING 1: 409. 1979.
### Publications
##### n.27.123. morphology
**Title**
The *morphology* and anatomy of *Utricularia brachiata*, Oliver... Reprinted from The New Phytologist... 1909. Oct.
**Notes**
*Publ*.: 30 Apr 1909 (in journal), cover-t.p., p.\[i\], \[117\]-130. *Copy*: L. – Reprinted and to be cited from New Phytologist 8(4): 117-130. 1909.
##### n.27.124. Coniferae
**Title**
Xerophily in the *Coniferae* and microphylly... Reprinted from The New Phytologist ... 1911. Oct.
**Notes**
*Publ*.: 31 Mar 1911 (in journal), cover-t.p., p. \[i\], \[100\]-105. *Copy*: L. – Reprinted and to be cited from New Phytologist 10(3): 100-105. 1911.
##### n.27.125. work on Oenothera
**Title**
Recent *work on Oenothera*... Reprinted from The New Phytologist... 1911. Oct.
**Notes**
*Publ*.: 30 Sep 1911 (in journal), cover-t.p., title recto of p. \[209\], p. \[209\]-211. *Copy*: L. – Reprinted and to be cited from New Phytologist 10(5-6): 209-211. 1911.
##### n.27.126. anatomy of the mummy pea
**Title**
The *anatomy of the mummy pea*... Reprinted from The New Phytologist... 1911. Oct.
**Notes**
*Publ*.: 20 Nov 1911 (in journal), cover-t.p., p. 249-255. *Copy*: L. – Reprinted and to be cited from New Phytologist 10(7-8): 249-255. 1911.
##### n.27.127. anatomical transition
**Title**
Theories of the *anatomical transition* from *roots* to *stem*... Reprinted from The New Phytologist... 1912. Oct.
**Notes**
*Publ*.: 5 Feb 1912 (in journal), cover-t.p., p. \[i\], \[13\]-25. *Copy*: L. – Reprinted and to be cited from New Phytologist 11(1): 13-25. 1912.
##### n.27.128. ferns of Kirstenbosch
**Title**
The *ferns of Kirstenbosch*... Reprinted from the Journal of the Botanical Society of South Africa \[1924\]. Oct.
**Notes**
*Publ*.: 1924 (mss. signed Feb 1924), p. \[1-8\]. *Copy*: L. – Reprinted and to be cited from J. Bot. Soc. S. Afr. 10: 19-26. 1924.