BCSS - Forum

There is at least one plant named for the boys: Matucana pujupatii.

The biblical flock usually means the "shepherd" directing the sheep Lithos, and he usually takes all the credit for the end result!

For those who did not know Alfred Lau was a priest, and as Lithos says the indian boys under his care usually did most of the searching for new plants, calling him over if anything interesting was found. As Terry says one the few plants I can think of named after the boy that found it Shawintu Pujupat rather than Lau himself was Matucana madisoniorum ssp pujupatii.

"Alfred Lau began in 1947 at the All Nations Bible College in England his training as a priest. In 1952 he emigrated to the United States , where he taught eighth graders at the Academy in Los Angeles until 1955. In 1955 he married Annie Siemers, with whom he had seven children. Two years later the family moved to Cordoba in the Mexican state of Veracruz . In 1967, the family Lau finally moved to Fortin de las Flores.

In addition to his work as a priest Lau was interested in plants, especially cacti and other succulents. For this he undertook expeditions in North and South America and discovered many new species"

However, irrespective of who actually found the plants, the Lau expeditions certainly introduced many new and desirable plants. To give Lau credit even if he did not climb every hill to find the plants, leaving that to his indian boys, he walked many miles accompanying them.

And he didnt name them himself!

I was alluding to some of the I have to say alleged treatment the young men were subjeced to. Enough for even the Mexican authorities to refuse him entry home.
Jimmy Saville springs to mind if any of you are still in the dark

I believe the USA had already refused him re-entry long before Mexico Lithos.

I know that.
- none of the boys had little or no chance to refuse 're entry' by Alred Lau . His activities were on a par with Jimmy Saville. Should we re name the plants because the man was a church certified peadophile, or just ignore it ?

We are wandering off topic lads, the mods are watching. Cheers

So should we start a new thread?

Whatever is the actual truth it's history now since he is dead. What is obvious is Lau and his various boys introduced many plants to our hobby that had not been known before. In that Lau and his boys rank probably equal with Ritter for new introductions.

No need - the mod watcher is watching the mods. Clearly a relative of Lord Janner.