Maria Tallant Owen
Maria Tallant Owen (February 13, 1825 – June 8, 1913) was an American botanist who carefully documented Nantucket Island’s plants and algae in the 19th century. Born Maria Tallant on Nantucket, she came from a wealthy family and learned botany at home with her mother and sisters. She taught at the Perkins School for the Blind and Nantucket High School, and ran her own private school.
In 1853 she moved to Springfield, Massachusetts after marrying Dr. Varillas L. Owen. They had two children, Walter and Amelia. In Springfield, she contributed to scientific societies and taught science and French.
Her best-known work, published in 1888, is a record of Nantucket County flora before 1853, listing 787 species. This record remains useful for scientists studying how climate change affects plants. She also expanded her collection during trips to Europe.
Owen helped found two botanical societies: the Connecticut Valley Botanical Society (organized in 1873; she served as secretary) and the Springfield Botanical Society (founded in 1877; she was its president for many years and later honorary president). She continued her botanical research until 1912.
She died at her daughter’s home in Plandome, Long Island, New York. In botanical literature, her name is abbreviated as Owen when citing a plant species she described.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 16:10 (CET).