ChewWL

Career

Collecting localities

Collections

Chew Wee-Lek

(Source: Flora Malesiana ser. 1, 8: Cyclopaedia of collectors, Supplement II)

Born: 1932, Singapore.

career:

Botanist, educated at the University of Malaya, where he took his B.Sc. (Hons) in Botany under Prof. Holttum in 1956; in Oct. of that year he joined the staff of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. He went to Cambridge, England, in Sept. 1957, and took his Ph.D. under Prof. Corner at Cambridge University in June 1960. Since 1963 Keeper of the Singapore Herbarium and Botanist at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, later Acting Director. He took part in two Royal Society expeditions to Mt Kinabalu under Prof. Corner. He joined the staff of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney from Apr. 1970.

His main interests are Urticaceae and Piperaceae of Malesia, and lianas of Malaya and Singapore.

Litsea chewii Kosterm. was named after him.

Collecting localities:

1957. Malaya: Trengganu (Mar. 27-31) and Kelantan (Apr. 1-6), Penang (7-8), Kedah (9-12), with Kiah bin Haji Salleh; Kedah, Perlis, and Langkawi Is. (May 10-29).-1960. Java: Udjung Kulon and P. Peutjang (Oct. 26-Dec. 10, with Dr Kostermans, Mr Kochummen, and Mr Gutierrez).-1961. Sabah: Mt Kinabalu (May 29-Aug. 16, Royal Society Expedition, see under E.J.H. Corner). Malaya: Pahang at Tasek Bera (Oct. 24-31).-1962. In Pahang with M.D. Poore and F. Merton. Sarawak: Niah Caves (June 3-7), Baram R. (8-12), Mt Mulu (June 13-17), Mt Api and Benarat (20-29).-1963. Sarawak: Seburan Limestones in Ban (July 12-15), Mt Gading (17-21), Sg. Priam (22), Mt Mentawa and Maja, near Kuching (25-28). Malaya: Cameron Highlands, collecting at Sg. Pauh Valley, Mt Berumbun, Bt Siku, Bt Ruil, Mentigi F.R., Sg. Boh, Sg. Bertam Valley, Mt Brinchang, Mt Jasar (Oct. 2-12). Sarawak: Bau and Tiang Bekap (Oct. 11-29).-1964. Sabah: Mt Kinabalu at the Pinosuk Plateau between 8000 and 5000 ft alt. (Jan. 10-May 20, 2nd Royal Society Expedition under Prof. Corner).-1966. Sarawak: Bt Lambir (Feb. 3), Marudi F. R. (5-6); Baram Distr.: Kuala Melinau Paku (8-10); Sg. Tutoh, Sg. Melinau (11-12); G. Api and vicinity (13-17); Sg. Terikan in Limbang Distr. (18-19). Malaya: G. Bubu in Perak (Aug. 13-18), Cameron Highlands in Pahang (Oct. 1-4).-1967 Sarawak: G. Api Benarat, Tiang Bekap limestones near Kuching, on Mt Maja and Mentawa (Mar. 10-14); Mt Santubong (15-23).

Besides, numerous daily collecting forays in Singapore and nearby Johore.

collections:

About 3000 nos of flowering plants of which those from 1957 mainly in the SFN series, those from Kinabalu (1961, 1964) in the RSNB series (Royal Society North Borneo numbers), and the rest in his own C.W.L. series (to be cited in his own name). The RSNB series distributed by Kew [K], the others by Herb. Sing. [SING]. Dupl. in Leiden [L], Kew [K], Arn. Arbor. [A], U.S. Nat. Mus. [US], Copenh. [C], Aarhus [AAU], Berkeley [UC], Saraw. [SAR], Kepong [KEP], Edinb. [E], and specialists.

	Career Collecting localities Collections
	Chew Wee-Lek
	(Source: Flora Malesiana ser. 1, 8: Cyclopaedia of collectors, Supplement II)
	Born: 1932, Singapore.
	career: Botanist, educated at the University of Malaya, where he took his B.Sc. (Hons) in Botany under Prof. Holttum in 1956; in Oct. of that year he joined the staff of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. He went to Cambridge, England, in Sept. 1957, and took his Ph.D. under Prof. Corner at Cambridge University in June 1960. Since 1963 Keeper of the Singapore Herbarium and Botanist at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, later Acting Director. He took part in two Royal Society expeditions to Mt Kinabalu under Prof. Corner. He joined the staff of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney from Apr. 1970. His main interests are Urticaceae and Piperaceae of Malesia, and lianas of Malaya and Singapore. Litsea chewii Kosterm. was named after him.
	Collecting localities: 1957. Malaya: Trengganu (Mar. 27-31) and Kelantan (Apr. 1-6), Penang (7-8), Kedah (9-12), with Kiah bin Haji Salleh; Kedah, Perlis, and Langkawi Is. (May 10-29).-1960. Java: Udjung Kulon and P. Peutjang (Oct. 26-Dec. 10, with Dr Kostermans, Mr Kochummen, and Mr Gutierrez).-1961. Sabah: Mt Kinabalu (May 29-Aug. 16, Royal Society Expedition, see under E.J.H. Corner). Malaya: Pahang at Tasek Bera (Oct. 24-31).-1962. In Pahang with M.D. Poore and F. Merton. Sarawak: Niah Caves (June 3-7), Baram R. (8-12), Mt Mulu (June 13-17), Mt Api and Benarat (20-29).-1963. Sarawak: Seburan Limestones in Ban (July 12-15), Mt Gading (17-21), Sg. Priam (22), Mt Mentawa and Maja, near Kuching (25-28). Malaya: Cameron Highlands, collecting at Sg. Pauh Valley, Mt Berumbun, Bt Siku, Bt Ruil, Mentigi F.R., Sg. Boh, Sg. Bertam Valley, Mt Brinchang, Mt Jasar (Oct. 2-12). Sarawak: Bau and Tiang Bekap (Oct. 11-29).-1964. Sabah: Mt Kinabalu at the Pinosuk Plateau between 8000 and 5000 ft alt. (Jan. 10-May 20, 2nd Royal Society Expedition under Prof. Corner).-1966. Sarawak: Bt Lambir (Feb. 3), Marudi F. R. (5-6); Baram Distr.: Kuala Melinau Paku (8-10); Sg. Tutoh, Sg. Melinau (11-12); G. Api and vicinity (13-17); Sg. Terikan in Limbang Distr. (18-19). Malaya: G. Bubu in Perak (Aug. 13-18), Cameron Highlands in Pahang (Oct. 1-4).-1967 Sarawak: G. Api Benarat, Tiang Bekap limestones near Kuching, on Mt Maja and Mentawa (Mar. 10-14); Mt Santubong (15-23). Besides, numerous daily collecting forays in Singapore and nearby Johore.
	collections: About 3000 nos of flowering plants of which those from 1957 mainly in the SFN series, those from Kinabalu (1961, 1964) in the RSNB series (Royal Society North Borneo numbers), and the rest in his own C.W.L. series (to be cited in his own name). The RSNB series distributed by Kew [K], the others by Herb. Sing. [SING]. Dupl. in Leiden [L], Kew [K], Arn. Arbor. [A], U.S. Nat. Mus. [US], Copenh. [C], Aarhus [AAU], Berkeley [UC], Saraw. [SAR], Kepong [KEP], Edinb. [E], and specialists.