author
Clair A. (Clair Alan) Brown
1903–1982
A longtime Louisiana State University botanist, he became known for careful studies of Louisiana’s plant life and for practical work on weeds, wetlands, and pollen. His books helped introduce generations of readers to the region’s wildflowers and natural history.
1 Audiobook
Identifying Hardwoods Growing on Pine Sites
by Clair A. (Clair Alan) Brown, Harold E. Grelen
About the author
Born in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, in 1903, he studied forestry and botany before building a long career in the South. He earned degrees from the New York State College of Forestry and the University of Michigan, then joined Louisiana State University, where he served on the faculty from 1926 until retiring in 1970.
His work centered on the flora of Louisiana and the broader Southeast. Along with academic research in botany, ecology, palynology, and weed science, he published practical and widely used books including Wildflowers of Louisiana and Adjoining States and Palynological Techniques.
He died in 1982. Remembered as a specialist in Louisiana plants, he helped document the landscapes, wetlands, and native flowers of the Gulf South in ways that were useful both to scientists and to curious general readers.