Ynes Mexica

Trailblazing Mexican botanist and explorer who documented thousands of plant species

Ynes Mexica (1870–1938), often overshadowed by male contemporaries, discovered over 150,000 plant specimens across Latin America. Her expeditions through unmapped jungles redefined botanical taxonomy and conservation practices.

Educated at Stanford University under David Starr Jordan, Mexica specialized in taxonomic classification of tropical flora. Her 1905 Amazon expedition alone yielded 500 previously unknown species, including the medicinal vine Strychnos mexicanum.

Mexica challenged gender norms by leading all-female expeditions. Her 1913 memoir Jungle Thorns and Blossoms detailed encounters with hostile tribes and logistical nightmares—yet she persisted. She established seed banks in Mexico City and Lima to preserve endangered species, a concept ahead of its time.

Modern impact: The Mexica Biodiversity Prize rewards sustainable botany research. Scientists recently utilized her specimens to develop drought-resistant crops, proving her work's enduring relevance in climate resilience studies.