Women's History Month: Women in Botany

In our continued celebration of Women’s History Month, this week we’re featuring just some of the many women who have contributed to the evolution of botany over the past five centuries.

Botany is the scientific study of plants, from their physiological structure and genetics to their classification and importance in medicine and health. Not only are there millions of plant species in the natural world, there are also endless ways botanists can use their skills to make the world a better place.

Ynés Mexía discovered hundreds of new plant species and classified them using the Linnaean system. Other botanists specialize in experimenting and finding new uses for plants, such as Loredana Marcello, who used her garden to create remedies for the plague. Others work on caring for the environment, like conservationist Dr. Wangari Maathai, who made a name for herself by planting over 50 million trees in Kenya and winning a Nobel Peace Prize.

Want to know where you would fit in among these innovators? Take the quiz below to find out!