Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 83:61, 2000 Obituary: Norman H. Brittan (7 September, 1920 -19 April, 2000) A former President of the outback regions for specimens of his speciality genus Royal Society of Western Thysanotus. His work culminated in a revision of the Australia, Norman Brittan genus in 1981 and an account for the 'Flora of Australia', passed away on 19 April, published in 1987. A distinctive new species closely allied 2000. to Thysanotus was placed in a new genus, Murchisonia (1971), and another species was added in 1986. He also Born on 7 September wrote Arthropodium and Dichopogon for the 'Flora'. 1920 at Whitley Bay, Norman competently prepared his own line drawings. Northumberland, Norman Following his retirement at the end of 1985 he was made attended Rutherford College an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of (Newcastle, UK) and went Botany, during which period he completed his 'Flora of on to complete his BSc (1st Australia' work. class Honours) in Botany from the University of He was a long-standing member of the Royal Society Durham in June 1941. His tertiary education was Council (1953-63) serving variously as Council Member, interrupted at this point by the war, in which he served Secretary, Vice-President and as President in 1960-61. At as an army officer in Radar with REME. Returning to his the end of his term he gave a Presidential Address studies after the war, he was awarded his entitled 'Variation, Classification and PhD in 1950 from the University of Durham Evolution in Flowering Plants—with (King's College). particular reference to Thysanotus' (Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 45:1-11, In September 1950, Norman migrated to 1962). Perth where he took up a position as lecturer in the Botany Department at the University Norman was associated for many years of Western Australia (where he spent his with the University's arm of the Student whole professional career). His main areas of Christian Movement. He was an avid listener interest were plant anatomy, physiology and to classical music of many composers, both genetics, linked to systematics, and he taught recorded and at concerts. Gentle and in all these areas as well as supervising the somewhat retiring, he was ever ready to research of several graduates in the Faculties Thysanotus pseudojunceus advise and assist students and colleagues. He of Science and Agriculture. Early in his time from Brittan (1960) had a quite formidable talent at resolving here he studied the legume genus Kennedia, complex issues, which made him an obvious producing a systematic and ecological overview with choice on the University's timetabling committee, and in J H Silsbury in 1955. He then turned to the monocots, advising students as the Sub-Dean of the Faculty of and the genus Thysanotus (fringed lilies) in particular. Science (1962/63). His research over the following decades (including He is commemorated in the specific epithet of periods at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he Lomandra brittanii Choo, named in 1984 by one of his developed expertise in electron microscopy) resulted in a post-graduate students. number of papers, with the description of 25 new species of Thysanotus. It was a great joy for Norman to explore Alex George and Bill Loneragan © Royal Society of Western Australia 2000 61