Catherine Furbish

Catherine 'Kate' Furbish (May 19, 1834 – December 6, 1931)[1] was an American botanist who collected, classified and illustrated the native flora of Maine.

She devoted over 60 years of her life, traveling thousands of miles throughout her home state and creating very accurate drawings and watercolor paintings of the plants she found.

Though she did not receive a formalized higher education, in 1860, Furbish attended George L. Goodale's botany lectures in Boston.

She led the life of a typical Victorian lady in that she dressed appropriately, attended church regularly, and kept her house in immaculate order, but she was often impatient with other social conventions and took refuge in her family.

She was given the nickname "Posey Woman" by the French Canadians living in the wilds of Maine, which stuck with her and which she felt suited her well.

[7][8] During the 38 years between 1870 and 1908, Furbish completed the majority of her painting, collecting, and classifying Maine's plant life, traveling thousands of miles across the state.

She often traversed untouched wilderness, and in the process, her self-appointed life task resulted in over 4000 sheets of dried plants and ferns.

The Furbish's lousewort is so rare that in 1976, construction of a $1.3 billion hydroelectric power plant and dam project on the Saint John River was stopped in order to protect it.

[4][6] Furbish soon collected over 1,300 water colors and pressings in a book that spanned fourteen volumes she titled "Flora of Maine".