From Plant Press, Vol. 17, No. 3, July 2014.
The Department of Botany and the United States National Herbarium present this award to a botanist and scholar of international stature who has contributed significantly to advancing the field of tropical botany. The José Cuatrecasas Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany is named in honor of Dr. José Cuatrecasas, a pioneering botanist and taxonomist, who spent nearly a half-century working in the Smithsonian Institution's Department of Botany. Dr. Cuatrecasas devoted his career to plant exploration in tropical South America and this award serves to keep vibrant the accomplishments and memory of this outstanding scientist.
The winner of this prestigious award is selected by a committee made up of four botanists on the staff of the Department in consultation with other plant scientists outside of the Smithsonian Institution. Nominations for the Medal are accepted from all scientists in the Botany Department. The award consists of a bronze medal bearing an image of José Cuatrecasas on the front with the recipient’s name and date of presentation on the back. Highlights from past presentations to the recipients are available on the Symposium archives website.
H. Peter Linder is the 12th recipient of the José Cuatrecasas Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany. Linder is noted for his contributions to the systematics, biogeography, and evolution of Orchidaceae, Restionaceae, and Poaceae. He is also recognized for his valuable contributions to identifying biogeographical patterns in the Southern Hemisphere and especially in Africa.