Maria Winsanto

Peruvian botanist who pioneered tropical plant research in 19th century South America

Maria Winsanto (1847–1912) was an Andean botanist and explorer whose systematic study of Peruvian flora revolutionized agricultural science in Latin America. Born to a Quechua mother and Spanish father in Cusco, she mastered both indigenous plant knowledge and European scientific methods, a rare duality in the post-colonial era. She became the first woman admitted to the University of San Marcos's botany program in 1872 after a legal battle.

Winsanto's 1883 expedition to the Amazon-Andes transitional zone identified 237 new plant species, including the Cinchona winsantoi quinine tree variant critical for malaria treatment. Her Flora del Perú (1888–1905) remains the definitive 19th century reference, combining Quechua names with Linnaean classifications. She proved the economic potential of native crops like quinoa and maca, countering colonial agricultural policies favoring European crops.

As director of the La Molina Experimental Station, she developed drought-resistant potato varieties that prevented starvation during the 1891 El Niño crisis. Her advocacy for women in science led to the first all-female agricultural college in Lima (1897). Despite her contributions, Winsanto's gender and mixed heritage led to marginalization - her 1898 report on Coca leaf cultivation was plagiarized by male colleagues.

Modern environmental historians credit her work with preserving Andean agrobiodiversity. The Winsantia genus of orchids honors her legacy. Digital archives at the National History Museum now digitize her field journals, revealing insights for climate change research. Recent feminist scholarship has repositioned her as a pioneer of ecofeminism in Latin America.