Katy Lemay — Illustration for The Persistent

Katy Lemay was commissioned by The Persistent, a women-run independent media organization that puts women at the center of the story, to create this editorial illustration.

The illustration was created for an article about Dr. Charlotte Taylor, a botanist and scientist at the Missouri Botanical Garden who specializes in identifying and classifying dried plant specimens. When Taylor identifies a previously undocumented plant species, she has the opportunity to name it.

With more than 500 plant species named to her credit, Taylor is one of the most prolific living female botanists. Her work highlights the important role women scientists play in documenting, identifying, and expanding our understanding of the natural world.

The illustration accompanied the article “Almost Every Plant You Know Was Named by a Man. Taylor Is Changing That.”

Art Director: Francesca Donner