Mary Wyatt was born in 1789 and, from humble beginnings, Wyatt accompanied Griffiths on her collecting expeditions, learning from her, but has been described as otherwise 'quite illiterate' having had no other formal education. This helped to support her and her husband, who was a "permanent invalid". Each specimen was named and numbered according
William Jackson Hooker's
British Flora, and other works on British algae, with a short description of the
habitat and locality where the seaweed is found, and an indication of its rarity.
The Journal of Botany called them "remarkable". was described as "a most important work... composed of specimens of 234 species, beautifully dried and correctly named... Nature’s own pencil illustrating herself". William Henry Harvey went on to refer readers to Wyatt's work on the publication of his own (unillustrated)
Manual of the British Algae (1841), urging them to consider his work a “companion” to
Algae Danmonienses. Wyatt also corresponded with other naturalists, including
Lewis Weston Dillwyn, to whom she sent specimens for identification. == Death and legacy ==