March 27, 1724 – Birth of Jane Colden – Barrier-Breaking (But Unacknowledged) Botanist

Jane Colden, born on March 27, 1724 – this day in history – was an American botanist, albeit not acknowledged by botanical publications in her time because she was a woman. Nevertheless, her findings were significant enough that botanist John Ellis wrote to Carl Linnaeus about her work identifying plants.

Jane Colden, via Wikipedia

Ms. Colden was educated at home. Her father, a physician, provided her with botanical training following the new classification system developed by Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalized binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming organisms. Her father translated Linnaeus’s books into English, obtained books full of plant pictures as well as real samples for her, and surrounded her with like-minded scientists.

Between 1753 and 1758 Colden catalogued New York’s flora, compiling specimens and information on more than 400 species of plants from the lower Hudson River Valley, and classifying them according to the system developed by Linnaeus. She developed a technique for making ink impressions of leaves, and was also a skilled illustrator, doing ink drawings of 340. For many drawings she wrote additional botanical details as well as culinary, folklore or medicinal uses for the plant, including information from indigenous people. Through her father, she met and corresponded with many leading naturalists of the time, including Linnaeus. She discovered two new species as well, although her names for them were never accepted. Eventually Colden gained recognition as “the first female botanist in America.”

Jane Colden’s sketches of leaves from New York State Plants. No. 123. Spiraea; No. 124. Lycopus Water Hoarhound; No. 125. Mimulus; No. 126. Lobelia’Red C’ardinal’ No. 127. Sonchus. Via Wikipedia

The “Massive Science” site biography on Colden notes:

While Colden thought she described two new species, others have argued that there were probably more than two. Dutch botanist John Frederik Gronovius wrote that he found at least three additional new species in her manuscript, and that she wrote on unique characteristics in even more plants which had not been written about elsewhere.

In spite of her discoveries, Colden was never recognized for her scientific work; the genus Coldenia (a flowering plant genus) was named for her father. While science historians recognize Colden’s work, there have been no notable revisions to botanical history, like revising a species’ history and naming her as its describer, and there is still no genus named for her.”

Colden married in 1759, and her botany work stopped. She died in childbirth in 1766, just prior to her 42nd birthday.