Sheila Collenette
Iris Sheila Collenette was a British botanist, plant collector, and author.
Life
Collenette was born 26th August 1927, the daughter of Old Etonian Rupert Edward Darnton DFC and Iris Moreton, daughter of John Smith Moreton of Pickenham Hall, Norfolk which was situated in extensive botanical grounds. Collenette's uncle was composer Christian Darnton, born in 1905 and also known as Baron von Schunck. She married the geologist Peter Collenette in 1955.Her husband took a job as chief geologist in Saudi Arabia and Collenette took the opportunity to visit the country and collect botanical specimens. She became noted for her work on the flora there, particularly her books An illustrated guide to the flowers of Saudi Arabia and Wildflowers of Saudi Arabia. The species Aloe sheilae and Rhytidocaulon sheilae and Echinops sheilae were named in her honour. She collected the holotype of Hypericum collenetteae, named by Norman Robson. She identified at least fourteen species.