Aston, Helen Isobel   (1934 - 2020)

Born 26 March 1934 at Narrandera, NSW; died 17 March 2020, aged 85.

Undertook her primary education at a bush school in the Birrego district of NSW, commenced secondary education with Blackfriars Correspondence School, then 'Stratherne' Hawthorn, Vic. Tertiary education at University of Melbourne obtaining at B.Sc. in 1957.

In a career spanning 34 years (1956-1991) at the National Herbarium of Victoria, Helen Aston became one of Australia's leading authorities on freshwater vascular plants. 

In particular, she has published revisional work on Juncaginaceae, Menyanthaceae (Nymphoides, Villarsia) and Pontederiaceae. 

She is perhaps best known for her pioneering book Aquatic Plants of Australia (1977), but has also made major contributions to the Flora of Australia (Podostemaceae, Pontederiaceae and Sparganiaceae) and in retirement worked on three more family treatments: (Juncaginaceae, Limnocharitaceae and Menyantbaceae). 

She also has a strong interest in ornithology. 

Her main herbarium is at Melbourne (MEL), with duplicates in several other Australian herbaria.

Source: Extracted from: A.E.Orchard (1999) A History of Systematic Botany in Australia,
in Flora of Australia Vol.1, 2nd ed., ABRS. [consult for source references] and ABRS biographical records.
Photo: Australian Woman's Weekly magazine, ? date 1974

Collecting localities for 'Aston, H.I.' from AVH (2025)

Data from 6,072 specimens