Ruth Mason facts for kids
Ruth Mason (born November 7, 1913 – died May 14, 1990) was a New Zealand scientist who studied plants. She was especially interested in freshwater plants. Ruth learned how to identify different types of plants (this is called taxonomy) and how they live in their natural homes (this is called ecology).
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About Ruth Mason
Ruth Mason was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1913. She loved learning and went to the University of Auckland. There, she earned several degrees, including a Master of Science. This showed her strong passion for science!
Her Work as a Botanist
In 1939, Ruth started working as an assistant plant scientist at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). This was a major science department in New Zealand.
Ruth was the first person to find a tiny plant called Wolffia in New Zealand in 1949. She also spent a lot of time studying freshwater algae known as stoneworts. These are special types of algae that look a bit like plants.
Ruth also helped create a collection of seeds. This collection helps scientists learn about different plants from their seeds. She even studied the stomach contents of the moa, a large, extinct bird, to figure out what they used to eat!
Exploring and Discovering
Ruth spent a lot of time out in nature, doing fieldwork. Because of her many trips, she developed new ways to keep plants safe and preserved while she was collecting them. During her career, Ruth collected more than 13,000 plant samples! These samples are very important for understanding New Zealand's plant life.
She worked at the DSIR until she retired in 1974.
Honoring Her Contributions
Two different plants were named after Ruth Mason to honor her important work. A scientist named Lucy Moore named a type of Hebe plant Veronica masoniae. Also, Thomas Cheeseman named a plant Plantago masoniae. This shows how much other scientists respected her discoveries.
Ruth Mason passed away in Christchurch in 1990.
In 2017, the Royal Society Te Apārangi chose Ruth as one of their "150 women in 150 words". This celebrated the amazing things women have done for knowledge in New Zealand.
