Mary Pirie.

About Mary Pirie

Mary Pirie was a Scottish botanist and teacher. She had an interest in education and studied botany and entomology, calling entomology the study of "animated nature" which is the key focus of her second work. She believed one of the great benefits of natural sciences was the way that it is accessible to the masses, stating "The Science of Botany is the branch of Natural History most generally accessible to all; it is the science which furnishes us with the key to unlock the cabinet and unfold the wonders of the Floral Kingdom". This was cited as a key reason for her writing about botany in a digestible way through poetry and illustrations.