Francis Underwood (1946-2023)
Excerpted from
“The Botantist”
Gathered Leaves; Green, Gold and Sere”
New York: William-Frederick Press, 1958
It is not gold or gems he seeks,
But other sort of treasure.
Sweat and fatigue and rocks and mire
And gnats and ticks and tangled briar,
All these he deems a pleasure,
If only he can find some tree,
Some shrub or flower or grass or weed
That’s rare or new or strange,
Or growing somewhat out of range,
He has reward indeed.
—Ernest Jesse Palmer
Plant Collector, Arnold Arboretum
1913-1948
Francis Underwood who died on September 12, 2023 was an exceptional naturalist and botanist. He leaves an incredible wealth of observations and detailed records of the flora and some of the fauna of Rhode Island. For his “extraordinary contribution to the knowledge, discovery and recovery of Rhode Island rare plants” Fran was given the Rhode Island State Award from the New England Flower Society [now Native Plant Trust] (2004). Additionally he received the Rhode Island Natural History Survey Distinguished Naturalist Award (2017) as well as a Rhode Island Wild Plant Society Lifetime Service Volunteer Award (2020). Many of his observations and photos can be found on Among Rhode Island Wild Flowers, a website, founded by Fran and Kathy Barton, to serve the people who comb the wilds of Rhode Island.
Kathy wandered miles with Fran. She writes,
“Francis Underwood was a kind, gentle man with a lively sense of humor and an insatiable curiosity about the natural world. Within RIWPS, he was known for his knowledge of plants, but he also active with birding and butterfly groups.
RIWPS formed in 1987. It was a time of euphoria for wild plant people. From being alone in the natural history world there was suddenly a group of people who didn’t get glassy-eyed when you talked about clubmosses. And Fran Underwood was known as the tree guy. He led a number of walks about trees in the early 1990’s.
Fran had an encyclopedic memory for plant facts. Fran, Betty Allen and I were at the Marconi Gardens in Slater Park, Pawtucket one time. It was an over-grown site. The water way had filled-in with cat-tails, marsh plants and willows. Fran
looks at the wetland and says “You know, Liparis loeselii has been recorded as growing with willows.” Not twenty feet further on, he spotted the orchid snuggled up against a willow. There were times when I swore he could smell rare plants.
Fran was a cheerful companion on walks and always willing to go adventuring in search of the unknown. My sympathy goes out to his family, friends, and past trail companions. We miss you, Fran.”
