William Starling Sullivant: America’s Father of Mosses and Master of Bryology

William Starling Sullivant thumbnail image

Founding Family of Franklinton Today is the birthday of William Starling Sullivant. Sullivant was born to the founding family of Franklinton, Ohio. His father, Lucas, was a surveyor and had named the town in honor of the recently deceased Benjamin Franklin. The settlement would become Columbus. In 1823, William Sullivant graduated from Yale College. His…

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The Moss Whisperer: Remembering William Starling Sullivant

William S Sullivant by M Whitt c. 1864.

This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast: Click here to see the complete show notes for this episode. April 30, 1873 Today marks the anniversary of the departure of William Starling Sullivant, a man who devoted his life to the humble moss – those diminutive verdant pillows that cushion our forest…

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