FLECKER Dr Hugo

Dr Hugo Flecker was a Radiologist in Cairns, north Queensland in 1932. On January 20th 1955, when a 5-year-old boy died after being stung in shallow water at Cardwell, north Queensland, Flecker suggested that the police net the area. Three types of jellyfish were caught, one of which was an unidentified, box-shaped jellyfish with groups of tentacles arising from each corner.

Flecker sent it to Dr Ronald Southcott in Adelaide, and on December 29th 1955 Southcott published his article introducing it as a new Genus and species of lethal box jellyfish. He named it Chironex fleckeri, the name being derived from the Greek `cheiro' meaning `hand', and the Latin `nex' meaning `murderer', and `fleckeri' in honour of its discoverer. Flecker was also interested in the Type `A' stinging and published his article in the Medical Journal of Australia in 1952 naming it the `Irukandji syndrome' after the "Irukandji" tribe of Aboriginals who lived in the Palm Cove area where the stings were frequently reported (Flecker 1952b). Flecker died in 1957 without finding the jellyfish responsible for the syndrome.*

 Flecker's field and experiment notebook, containing almost certainly valuable information ahead of its time, disappeared with his death. Rediscovery of this notebook would be a major historical and possibly research advance.

Reference: <http://www.marine-medic.com.au/pages/medical/irukandji.asp>   Downloaded 18 May 2012


Amateurs as well as professionals have added to the bryophyte collections in Australian herbaria during the 20th century. Two examples of amateurs, from quite different parts of the country, are Hugo Flecker (1884-1957) and Alexander Clifford Beauglehole (1920-2002). Flecker, a radiologist, moved to Cairns from Melbourne in 1922. He had wide interests in natural history and became foundation president of the North Queensland Naturalists Club. Flecker, and other members of the Club, sent north Queensland specimens to the English bryologist HN Dixon, but also kept material in the Club herbarium. Many of the bryophyte specimens from the Club herbarium are now held at the Australian National Herbarium in Canberra. By profession Beauglehole of Portland in Victoria was an orchardist and was another example of a person with wide interests in natural history. As well as collecting in western Victoria he travelled widely through central, northern and western Australia and has added numerous bryophyte specimens from many isolated locations to the herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.

Reference: http://www.anbg.gov.au/bryophyte/aust-bryology-episodes-3.html  Downloaded 18 May 2012

Compiler’s Note: The Botanic Gardens, Cairns was named Flecker Botanic Gardens for Dr Hugo Flecker. The name has been changed recently however, to Cairns Botanic Gardens. (See also: BARNES Dr Jack)