Lionel Cinq-Mars

Lionel Cinq-Mars

Lionel Cinq-Mars, plant pathologist, vascular plant systematist (b at St-Coeur-de-Marie, Qué 12 June 1919; d at Québec C 6 Aug 1973). Trained in plant pathology, but interested in the taxonomy of vascular plants, Cinq-Mars initiated and encouraged continued development of floristic studies at Laval. During his early career as a phytopathologist, Cinq-Mars worked on apple diseases. In 1962 he was appointed professor of botany at Laval and remained there until his death. He became conservator of the Herbier Louis-Marie at Laval in 1968 and increased the holdings to over 10 000 specimens. His particular research interests were Amelanchier and Viola, especially in Québec. Cinq-Mars wrote more than 70 papers in plant pathology, vascular plant systematics and distribution, ornithology and natural history. He also established and edited 2 publications devoted to plant systematics, Ludoviciana and Provanchera. His name is commemorated by a species of saskatoon berry, Amelanchier quinti-martii. As a charter member and one of the first directors of the Canadian Botanical Association, he is remembered by the Cinq-Mars Award for the outstanding student paper at the annual meeting.