James S. Pringle, 87

HAMILTON, Ontario — Dr. James Scott Pringle, 87, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, passed away on Sept. 3, 2024, at Jurvanski Hospital in Canada.

James was born on Aug. 14, 1937, in Danvers, Massachusetts, the son of the late James Holburn Pringle and Ruth (Libby) Pringle.

Dr. Pringle joined the staff of Royal Botanical Gardens in 1963, as RBG’s first full-time scientist.

Over the course of his career to date, Dr. Pringle has been binomial author or co-author of many species of plants. He has named or updated the taxonomy of 88 species, subspecies and sub-families of various vascular plants, mostly in the gentian family. He is also a published authority on the history of botanical exploration in Canada. He serves as an adjunct professor in the biology department of McMaster University.

In 2004 a newly described species of tree, Macrocarpaea pringleana, was named in Dr. Pringle’s honor. M. pringleana is a one- to five-meter-tall member of the gentian family from the Central Andes, just north of the equator. In 2015 a newly discovered species of gentian native to the Himalaya, Kuepferia pringlei, was named to honor Dr. Pringle.

James is survived by his sister Carolyn Anastos of Hull, Massachusetts.

There will be no calling hours.

A burial will be held at a later date at Union Cemetery, Academy Street, Laconia.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.