Abel Joel Grout (1867–1947) was an American bryologist, an expert on pleurocarpous mosses, and founding member of the Sullivant Moss Society.[1]

Abel Joel Grout
Dr. A. J. Grout in an herbarium, ca. 1900
Born	March 24, 1867 Newfane, Vermont
Died	March 27, 1947 (1947-03-28) (aged 80) East Bradenton, Florida
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Vermont Columbia University
Known for	Bryology
Scientific career
Fields	Botany
Institutions	Curtis High School Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Doctoral advisor	Elizabeth Gertrude Britton
Author abbrev. (botany)	Grout

Biography

Grout was born near Newfane, Vermont. In 1890, he received his Bachelor of Philosophy from the University of Vermont, graduating with his childhood friend Marshall Avery Howe.[2] After acquiring his doctorate at Columbia University in 1897, he turned to teaching at various locations. From 1908 to 1930, he taught at Curtis High School in Staten Island. After his retirement, he continued to teach summer bryology courses at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.[3]

His primary focus was mosses, which he developed an interest in during high school. Initially, his doctoral research concerned marine algae under Nathaniel Lord Britton, but he switched to the study of the moss genus Brachythecium under Elizabeth Gertrude Britton.[3]

Together, Grout and Mrs. Britton founded the Sullivant Moss Society, now called the American Bryological and Lichenological Society. He served as the first president of the organization.[4] Grout was also the first editor of The Bryologist, which evolved from a serial started with Willard Nelson Clute. He wrote numerous papers on the topic of mosses.[3]

Grout died in Bradenton, Florida.[3]

Selected publications

• Grout, Abel Joel (1903). Mosses with Hand-lens and Microscope. Published by the author.[5]
• Grout, Abel Joel (1905). Mosses with a Hand-lens. Published by the author.[6]
• Grout, Abel Joel (1916). The Moss Flora of New York City and Vicinity. Published by the author.[7]
• Grout, Abel Joel (1928). Moss flora of North America, north of Mexico, Volume 1.
• Grout, Abel Joel (1933). Moss flora of North America, north of Mexico, Volume 2.

The standard author abbreviation Grout is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.[8]

References

Further reading

• Flowers, Seville (1947). "A Visit with Dr. Grout". The Bryologist. 50 (2): 208–212. doi:10.1639/0007-2745(1947)50[208:AVWDG]2.0.CO;2. JSTOR 3239258.
• Haring, Inez M. (1947). "Abel Joel Grout — Vermonter and Bryologist". Journal of the New York Botanical Garden. 48: 163–165.
• Schnooberger, Irma (1947). "Moss Rock Cabin". The Bryologist. 50 (2): 213–217. doi:10.1639/0007-2745(1947)50[213:MRC]2.0.CO;2. JSTOR 3239259.