Shirley Tucker, Ph.D.

Shirley has published over 140 papers on floral morphology, plant systematics, and the lichens of California.

When Shirley Tucker, Ph.D., retired from Louisiana State University and began her relationship with Santa Barbara Botanic Garden in 1995, she brought her immense passion and knowledge of plants, as well as her extensive collection of lichens. She has published over 140 papers on floral morphology, plant systematics, and the lichens of California. Among her many notable achievements and awards, Shirley was president of both the Botanical Society of America and the American Society of Plant Taxonomists. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Minnesota and her doctorate from the University of California, Davis.