Mary Elizabeth Banning was a pioneering self-taught mycologist whose groundbreaking work on Maryland fungi spanned nearly four decades. Known for her passionate dedication, she identified 23 new species and meticulously illustrated them in her manuscript, "The Fungi of Maryland," featuring 175 watercolor plates. Despite the critical importance of her work in the field of mycology, her manuscript remained forgotten in a drawer at the New York State Museum for almost a century, overshadowing her contributions and the beauty of her art.
Mary Elizabeth Banning, a self-taught mycologist, conducted transformative research on fungi in Maryland, documenting new species and creating exquisite watercolor illustrations for her manuscript.
Despite the overwhelming stench of stinkhorn mushrooms she carried, Banning remained focused on her research, capturing thousands of specimens, revealing her dedication to mycology.
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