[4] She studied the chemistry, natural history of, and insects captured by the carnivorous pitcher plant Darlingtonia californica, and sold collected specimens to botanists and collectors.

[1] Her experiments and correspondences have been published or cited by Asa Gray, John Gill Lemmon, William Marriott Canby, and other prominent botanists of the time.

[1][5] Rebecca Merritt Smith was born on March 10, 1832[6] in Cumberland County, Kentucky,[3] one of eight children.

The family moved to the mining area of Black Hawk Creek in Plumas County, California[7] arriving there on March 10, 1865.

[8] In spite of the demands of working to support her family and looking after three children, Rebecca began collecting and studying plants.

Her daughter Josephine joined her in studying, collecting and selling specimens from California and Oregon.

Along with Mary Pulsifer Ames, they are credited with giving "the foundation to our knowledge of the vegetation" of northeastern California.