Ynes Mexia

Ynes Mexia was a Mexican-American botanist who grew up in Mexia, Texas, where her family had deep ancestral roots and large landholdings. At the age of 52, she began a spree of plant collecting, compiling and categorizing about 145,000 plant specimens, found from Alaska to the Amazon. Her specimens included representatives of about 500 newly recognized species, and at least two new genera. Over 50 plant species are named in her honor.