Hiesey, William M(cKinley) (1903- )

US botanist. He joined the Carnegie Institution's laboratory at Stanford University in 1926, where he worked with Jens Clausen and David Keck on a comprehensive comparative study of California flora from contrasting environments. As the plant physiologist of this group, Hiesey performed extensive research at field stations investigating the ecological differences of variousplant races, resulting in the group's classic six-volume work, Experimental Studies on the Nature of Species (1940-58). He joined the department of plant biology at Stanford University in 1951. Hiesey was born in Denver, Colorado.