Mary Leebody

Mary Isabella Leebody (or Mary Elizabeth Leebody; 1847–1911) was an Irish botanist, known for her work on the flora of County Londonderry and County Donegal. Leebody discovered a number of rare plants in Ireland, including the orchid Spiranthes romanzoffiana and Teesdalia nudicaulis, the common shepherd's-cress. Leebody was also known for her encouragement of other botanists.

Life Mary Leebody was born in Portaferry, County Down around 1847. She is sometimes known as Mary Elizabeth Leebody, and in other sources Mary Isabella Leebody. Leebody died in Derry on 19 September 1911.

Botanical work Known as a diligent field botanist, Leebody's work focused on Counties Antrim, Londonderry, and Donegal. Leebody's most active years were between 1893 and 1904, and she was an acquaintance of Robert Lloyd Praeger.

Leebody is credited with adding a number of new Irish records, including American orchid Spiranthes romanzoffiana, in 1893, marking the beginning of her published work. This find was notable as it increased the recorded range for the rare species. Other records she published were Dryas octopetala on Muckish, Teesdalia nudicaulis on Lough Neagh, and Liparis loeselii on Slieve Snaght.