Ruth Mason

Ruth Mason (7 November 1913 – 14 May 1990) was a New Zealand botanist specialising in the taxonomy and ecology of freshwater plants. She was employed at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for 35 years undertaking research into aquatic plants, pioneering new techniques for plant preservation and collecting over 13,000 plant specimens in the field. She was awarded life membership by the New Zealand Ecological Society.

Early life and education Mason was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1913. She attended St Cuthbert's College until 1931 and was Dux. Other early research projects focused on investigating the seeds and other plant material in the gizzards of several herbivores that were introduced to New Zealand, such as birds, possums and deer, as well as the extinct New Zealand endemic moa, to determine their food preferences. Mason is best known for her research on the taxonomy and ecology of aquatic plants, which included genera from a range of plant families, such as Typha (bulrush or raupō), Callitriche (starwort), and Ruppia (horse's mane). Her research and collections have made major contributions to our understanding of the taxonomy, ecology and distribution of aquatic plants in New Zealand and throughout the world.

Ruth Mason worked at DSIR for 35 years until her retirement in 1974. She is one of only two women who have been conferred life membership by the New Zealand Ecological Society. Colobanthus masoniae L.B.Moore, an endemic New Zealand cushion-like pearlwort. Lilaeopsis ruthiana Affolter, a small, aquatic flowering plant endemic to New Zealand, "named after Ruth Mason, who has long been a student of the New Zealand aquatic flora." Laccaria masoniae G.Stev., an endemic species of New Zealand fungi.

Family and personal life Ruth Mason's father was Rex Mason (1885–1975), a New Zealand politician who served in many ministerial roles and was in parliament from 1926 to 1966. Mason was an avid tramper and was active in the Tararua Tramping Club and Wellington Botanical Society prior to moving to the South Island in 1954, where she lived in Prebbleton (near Christchurch, New Zealand) for almost three decades.

Callitriche aucklandica R.Mason Callitriche capricorni R.Mason Callitriche petriei R.Mason Coprosma talbrockiei L.B.Moore & R.Mason Nertera villosa B.H.Macmill. & R.Mason Ruppia megacarpa R.Mason Ruppia polycarpa'' R.Mason

Selected works