Koyapillil Mathai Matthew (1930–2004) was an Indian Jesuit priest and botanist.

[1][2] He extensively studied the floral diversity of Tamil Nadu, and published several research papers and books.

[2] He was born to Teresa and K. O. Mathai of the Koyapillil family on March 16, 1930 in Ramapuram, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

[4] Born into a family of farmers he completed his school education at St. Augustine's High School, Ramapuram, initial collage studies at SB College Chegannacherry and moved to Tiruchirapalli for higher studies.

[citation needed] He was conferred with the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar for 2002 under the `individual' category posthumously for his outstanding contribution for the environmental protection.