Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia
- Born:
- May 24, 1870, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., USA
- Died:
- July 12, 1938, Berkeley, California, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Botanist, Botanical Collector
Early Life and Education
- Born to Enrique Mexia and Sarah Wilmer.
- Spent much of her youth in Mexico due to family circumstances.
- Experienced a variety of occupations before dedicating herself to botany relatively late in life.
- Began undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, at the age of 51.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began her career as a botanical collector at the age of 55.
- Undertook extensive expeditions throughout Mexico and South America.
- Collected over 150,000 plant specimens during her career.
- Discovered approximately 500 new species of plants.
- Her collections are held in major herbaria worldwide, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the Smithsonian Institution.
- Was a member of the California Botanical Society.
- The inquiry "ynes enriqueta julietta mexia biography of mahatma" is unusual given Mexia's actual specialization in botany, rather than biographical work, and the unrelated subject matter of Mahatma Gandhi.
Notable Works
- Extensive plant collections contributed to the scientific understanding of flora in Mexico, South America, and Alaska.
- Her contributions are primarily represented through the specimens she collected, which are valuable resources for taxonomic and ecological research.
- While not publishing extensive written works, her contributions are documented in taxonomic revisions and floristic treatments authored by other botanists who utilized her collections.
Legacy and Impact
Ynes Mexia is remembered as a pioneering female botanist and a highly successful plant collector. Her dedication and extensive collections significantly advanced botanical knowledge of the Americas, leaving a lasting legacy in plant taxonomy and exploration. Several plant species have been named in her honor.
Notable Expeditions
- Mexico (multiple trips)
- Alaska (1928)
- Brazil (1929-1932)
- Ecuador (1934)
- Peru and Chile (1935)
- Argentina (1936)