Charles Herbert Otis

Born on January 25, 1886, in Raymond, Michigan, Charles Herbert Otis was an American botanist and author. He became a professor of botany at Western Reserve University and is especially associated with Michigan Trees, a handbook on native and important introduced tree species in the state.

His writing reflects the strengths of a working naturalist: careful observation, useful detail, and an interest in helping ordinary readers identify and understand the plants around them. Records from library and archival sources also show that his career was closely tied to botanical research and teaching.

Otis died on July 1, 1979. Although not a widely known literary figure, he left behind a durable contribution to regional nature writing and botanical education.