UF Botanist Recognized for Research
A look into the life of Norris H. Williams
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Photo by Michelle Ashworth
Norris H. Williams sits at his desk in Dickinson Hall at the University of Florida. Although in the past he has spent a lot of time in the field, he said most of his time these days is spent in the office or in the lab.
After more than 40 years, Norris H. Williams' love of orchids is still in full bloom. As a researcher who is imperative to the botany world, Williams received the 2009 Smithsonian Institution's José Cuatrecasas Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany.
A prestigious award given annually to a researcher who has significantly advanced the field of tropical botany, this medal honors the late José Cuatrecasas. Cuatrecasas devoted nearly 50 years of his life to systematic botany and exploration in tropical South America, specifically Colombia, according to the Smithsonian Institution's Web site.
In a recent interview, Williams described Cuatrecasas as a "neat-o botanist" and said he was surprised to receive the honor.
"It was pretty special getting the award," he said with a smile.
Williams has not always studied orchids, however. During his undergraduate education, he was interested in freshwater algae. At the University of Alabama, he obtained his bachelor's in biology in 1964. He then went on to graduate school in St. Louis, attending Washington University.
His change of heart occurred during a field trip to Panama in the spring of 1965. He did not find algae nearly as fascinating as orchids and decided to change his career path.
Immediately after returning from his trip, he left Washington University and made his way back over to the University of Alabama. There, he earned his master's in biology in 1967. He went on to earn his doctorate in the same field from the University of Miami in 1971.
Williams has been published 101 times, so far. Throughout his career, he has worked with the molecular phylogenetics of orchids, studying the relationship of different neotropical groups. He has also specialized in floral fragrances, mixing compounds that will attract select species of euglossine bees.
One of the main reasons Williams started working with orchids was because of his attraction to the bees. He recalled the first time he saw a euglossine bee, back in 1980, fall down the shoot of an orchid and pick up a pollen mass.
"It was a real rush," he said with excitement. "It was really something."
Orchids, with 25,000 to 30,000 different species, are the largest family of flowering plants. Ranging in length from 1/8 inch to 25 feet, Williams described them as "really spectacular."
"Orchids are the most fascinating group of anything," he said. "I don't understand why you would study anything else."
Williams explained a little more about orchids, saying different species can have misleading flower structures -- they sometimes look the same. In order to correctly identify an orchid, it is important to look at the plant, not just the flower, he said.
Williams is not alone in his love for botany, as his family has been very involved in his career. His wife, Nancy Williams, has been on a number of work trips with him. He even admitted to working during their honeymoon in Ecuador.
Both of his sons have also spent a good deal of time in the tropics, his oldest son being a biologist. The family has enjoyed many field trips together, traveling to Costa Rica, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Williams has held several positions throughout his botany career. He began as a research associate with the Smithsonian Institution from 1971 to 1972. He was also a research associate with Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami from 1972 to 1973.
In 1981, after spending eight years at Florida State University as a professor in the biology department, he came to the University of Florida. Beginning as an associate curator, he became curator and keeper of the Florida Museum of Natural History's herbarium in 1984, the title he still holds today. He was chairman of UF's department of natural sciences from 1985 to 1994 and also recently finished a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, using DNA sequencing to barcode invasive plants of Florida.
Williams was born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1943 and has lived in the same house in Gainesville since 1981, when he started at UF.
He expressed nothing but love for his career. He said he has no intentions of retiring, and he feels sorry for those who actually look forward to retirement.
But Williams is not all work and no play. In his spare time, he likes to tend to his small garden and citrus trees. He admitted, however, that too much time spent on his yard seems like work.
Williams, 66, said he has no regrets about his career.
"It's been great," he said. "I've been really fortunate."
When asked what he would be doing if he were not studying orchids, he replied, "I can't imagine doing anything else." §
Michelle Ashworth is a student in UF's College of Journalism. She may be contacted through the editor: editor@towerpublications.com.
