Costermans, Leon. F.   (1933 - )

Botanist and botanical illustrator. Illustrated his, Native Trees and Shrubs of South-Eastern Australia (1981).

Leon Costermans was born in Melbourne in 1933. Although his schooling was city- based, he developed an early love of the bush, and spent many weekends and holidays hiking and camping.

After some years in the fields of motion picture production and engineering, which took him throughout Australia, he joined the Victorian Education Department, took a science degree at Melbourne University, majoring in geology and geomorphology, and taught science and mathematics at country high schools.

Leon Costermans has had a long association with the Scout Movement, especially in the training of adult leaders. His first book Trees of Victoria was written in 1966, largely for people such as scouts and walkers who had close contact with the bush, but it quickly became more widely used by the general public, and as a standard reference in schools, colleges and universities.

In 1972, he was appointed to the science staff at the State College of Victoria at Frankston, becoming a senior lecturer.

In 1981 he published Native Trees and Shrubs of South-Eastern Australia which became a best-seller and remained in print for several decades.

Source: Back cover flap of Native Trees and Shrubs of SE Aust.
H.Hewson Australia - 300 Years of Botanical Illustration (1999)
Portrait Photo: 1981, from back cover flap of above book

Collecting localities for 'Costermans, L.F.' from AVH (2021)

Data from 60 specimens