Mary Wharton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Wharton
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Mary Wharton in 1949.
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| Born | October 12, 1912 |
| Died | November 28, 1991 (aged 79) |
| Alma mater | University of Kentucky University of Michigan |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botany |
| Institutions | Georgetown College |
Mary Eugenia Wharton (born October 12, 1912 – died November 28, 1991) was an American scientist who studied plants. She was also a writer and worked to protect nature.
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About Mary Wharton
Mary Wharton was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, on October 12, 1912. Her family moved to Lexington when she was young.
She loved learning about plants and the Earth. Mary earned a bachelor's degree in botany (the study of plants) and geology (the study of rocks and Earth) from the University of Kentucky in 1935. She then continued her studies at the University of Michigan. There, she earned her master's degree in 1936 and her doctorate degree in 1946.
Discovering New Plants
In 1942, Mary found a special berry in Montgomery County, Kentucky. This berry was a type of dewberry, which is like a blackberry. It turned out to be a brand new species of plant! Scientists named it Rubus whartoniae to honor her discovery.
Teaching and Research
After finishing her studies, Mary Wharton taught for 30 years at Georgetown College. She later became the head of the Biology Department. The college even named a part of their science building after her.
Mary also collected many different plant species. These plants were added to the University of Kentucky Herbarium. A herbarium is like a library for dried plant samples. She also helped represent Kentucky scientists on a national council.
Writing About Nature
Besides collecting plants, Mary Wharton was also a talented writer. She worked with Roger Barbour on two important books about Kentucky's nature.
Their first book, Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky (1971), helped people identify many beautiful plants. Their second book, Shrubs of Kentucky (1973), focused on the different types of shrubs in the state. They also wrote Bluegrass Land and Life, which described the nature of the Inner Bluegrass Region.
Protecting Nature
Mary Wharton was very passionate about protecting natural areas. In the late 1950s, she started buying land along the Kentucky River.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary
In 1989, she created the Floracliff Nature Sanctuary with this land. This special place became a Kentucky State Nature Preserve in 1996. Mary used a "scenic easement" to protect part of the sanctuary. This was the first time such a legal tool was used in Kentucky to keep land natural forever. An easement is a legal agreement that protects land from being developed.
Community Involvement
Mary also helped start the Land and Nature Trust of Bluegrass. This group works to save important natural places in the bluegrass region. These include areas like Raven Run and greenway parks. She served as the leader of this organization many times. She was also part of other groups that worked to protect Kentucky's environment.
Environmental Activism
In her later years, Mary Wharton became a strong voice for environmental causes. She spoke out against plans to build a dam in the beautiful Red River Gorge. She also opposed the expansion of the Paris Pike road, which would have affected natural areas.
Mary Wharton died on November 28, 1991, in Lexington, Kentucky.
