1°C
The University Herbarium contains 60,000 preserved plant specimens, collected by some 2,000 botanists and collectors over the University’s 125-year history.
Most of these collectors were men, but some 260 women also worked on this valuable archive – some well documented, others entirely unknown.
My name is Lottie, and I’m currently studying an MA in Art History and Curating at the University of Birmingham. This term, I’ve had the privilege of working with Winterbourne’s curator, Henrietta Lockhart, on her research for Women in Botany: Mapping Female Collectors in the University Herbarium. Exploring the lives and contributions of these fascinating women, as well as being able to work directly with the Herbarium, has been an absolute joy – so let me share with you what I’ve found!
Muriel Wheldale Onslow:
Muriel Wheldale Onslow, born in Birmingham, England, in March 1880, received her secondary education at King Edward VI High School for Girls, a school which held a foremost position in women’s science education. In 1900, she began her studies in Botany at Newnham College, Cambridge University, excelling academically and achieving First Class results in both parts of the Natural Science Tripos. However, despite her outstanding achievements and evident affinity for the natural sciences, she was denied formal degree recognition, as Cambridge University did not award degrees to women until 1948.
Onslow’s career in the natural sciences was extensive. She was amongst the first three women elected to the Biochemical Club and one of the first women to be appointed as a University Lecturer at Cambridge. However, her most significant contributions lay in advancing the understanding of flower colour inheritance and pioneering the emerging field of chemical genetics, where her work proved invaluable.
The specimen shown here, Viola lutea, commonly known as the ‘mountain pansy’, was collected by Onslow at Stitt Hill in Shropshire. These wildflowers typically bloom in spring and summer, showcasing vibrant golden-yellow flowers. However, they are also known to appear in shades of blue, purple, violet, or even with striking parti-coloured petals. What I find particularly compelling about this specimen is its colour – something I imagine Onslow would have found equally interesting. Collaborating with future Novel laureate and biochemistry professor Frederick Gowland Hopkins, Onslow investigated flavones, the precursors to many of the yellow pigments found in flowers, deepening our understanding of flower pigmentation.
I’m not a scientist, nor can I claim to explain gene production or the laws of inheritance in plant colouration. However, what I can say is that Onslow’s deep connection to flower colour and her international acclaim in plant genetics are beautifully reflected in this specimen, acting as a testament to her contributions to the field. Amongst the many specimens of hers housed in the Herbarium, this one holds a special charm for me.
Mary Louisa Wedgwood:
Mary Louisa Wedgwood (born Mary Louisa Bell) was born around 1854 in Pelton, Durham. Her legacy is closely tied to the town of Marlborough, Wiltshire, where she is best remembered for her role as a benefactress of Marlborough College.
Described in the Biographical Dictionary of Woman in Science as an ‘outspoken and intelligent woman,’ Wedgwood was an avid plant collector who frequently worked alongside her son, Allen Wedgwood. In the years leading up to World War I, the pair often gathered specimens, preserving them in what were known as drying volumes. Allen was enrolled at Cotton House at Marlborough College from 1906 to 1911 before enlisting in the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1914. Tragically, he went missing in action at Gallipoli in August 1915, at just 22 years old.
Following the loss of her son, Mrs Wedgwood undertook an ambitious personal project: to collect a specimen of every plant species, variety, and hybrid listed in the London Catalogue of British Plants. Her determination took her on seasonal expeditions across the British Isles – completing this extraordinary endeavour in 1934.
This specimen, Potamogeton pusillus (small pondweed), was collected by Wedgwood in 1920 from Hedge Court Pond, Surrey, during one of her many journeys across the country to fulfil her personal mission and create a memorial to her son. The completed catalogued collection is preserved at the Wedgwood Herbarium at Marlborough College.
Later in life, Wedgwood served on the Council of the Botanical Society of the British Isles, and she travelled extensively, visiting places such as India and parts of the Mediterranean. During World War II, she relocated to Marlborough to escape the Blitz, passing away in Wiltshire at the age of 99. The species ofshrub Rubus wedgwoodiae was named in her honour.
I think I can speak for many when I say that hobbies like gardening often pass down through generations. Almost everyone in my family has some connection to gardening, flowers, or nature. My great-grandmother was an amateur flower arranger for a time who won medals for her bouquets, and my grandparents always maintained beautiful gardens and allotments. My dad even studied horticulture at college. Whilst, admittedly, my small collection of succulents may not compare to their green thumbs, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that every time I come across an interesting plant, I’m reminded of my dad. Nature reminds me of my loved ones, and I’m sure that Wedgwood shared this connection. For her, plants and flowers were a way to mourn and remain close to her son.
Mary McCallum Webster:
Building on that sentiment, this next woman is no exception. Mary McCallum Webster, the granddaughter of Mary Louisa Wedgwood, was born in Sussex in 1906. Unsurprisingly, she was interested in botany from a young age. She initially trained as a children’s nurse but later retrained as a cook to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II. After the war, she continued working as a cook in the winter months whilst dedicating her summers to botany. She walked hundreds of miles a week for several summers, recording plant species across the north of Scotland for the Botanical Society of the British Isles’ Atlas of British Flora. She worked for both the School of Botany at Cambridge University and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
These specimens – Digitaria sanguinalis collected from Avonmouth Docks in Bristol, and Chloris truncata collected from an arable field in Charlton, Worcestershire – are both grass samples collected in collaboration with several other botanists.
In 1966, Webster moved to Moray, Scotland, where she lived for the remainder of her life. She was an active member of several botany-focused organisations, including the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland and the Botanical Society of Scotland. After she passed away in 1985, a monument was erected in her honour in the Culbin Forest, recognising her as a foremost authority on the botany of Moray, Nairn and Eastern Inverness-shire. The monument stands as a testament to her unwavering dedication to documenting the plant life of the most remote regions.
In exploring the lives and legacies of these remarkable women, it becomes clear that their contributions to botany and the study of plant life were not just scientific, but deeply personal. Muriel Wheldale Onslow, Mary Louisa Wedgwood and Mary McCallum Webster each left an indelible mark on the field, and their respective works continue to inspire those who follow in their footsteps, or like myself, come across their stories in the University Herbarium.
As I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on their dedication and passion for plants and the natural sciences, it’s evident that botany was not merely an academic pursuit for these women, but a way to connect to the world around them, mourn their loved ones, and contribute to a legacy of scientific enquiry. These specimens offer a tangible link to their legacies, preserving their contributions for future generations to explore and appreciate.
Lottie Sowerby
