Cultivators: Helia Bravo Hollis

Helia Bravo Hollis (1901-2001) was a pioneering Mexican botanist and the country’s first formally titled biologist, specializing in the study and conservation of cacti. She classified over 700 cacti species, helped establish UNAM’s Botanical Garden, and co-founded the Mexican Cactus Society.

For Further Reading:

• Helia Bravo-Hollis | Science History Institute
• A lifetime among Cacti: Helia Bravo-Hollis – Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Helia Bravo Hollis, la reina de los cactus
• La pasión por la ciencia de una mujer centenaria
• Helia Bravo Hollis' 117th Birthday

This month, we’re talking about cultivators — women who nurtured, cross-pollinated, experimented, or went to great lengths to better understand and protect the natural world.

History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.

Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.

Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, Luci Jones, Abbey Delk, Adrien Behn, Alyia Yates, Vanessa Handy, Melia Agudelo, and Joia Putnoi. Special thanks to Shira Atkins.

Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez.

Follow Wonder Media Network:

• Website
• Instagram
• Twitter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hello. My name is Adrian Bain, and I'm a producer
at Wonder Media Network, and I'm so excited to be
guest hosting this episode of Womanica. This month, we're talking
about cultivators, women who nurtured, cross pollinated, experimented, or went

(00:25):
to great lengths to better understand and protect the natural world. Today,
we're talking about a pioneering cactus researcher who became Mexico's
first certified biologist. She co founded the Mexican Society of
Cactology and classified over seven hundred cacti species, many of

(00:51):
which her efforts helped preserve.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
Please welcome Elia bravo OLiS. Elia Bravo OLiS.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
Was born on September thirtieth, nineteen oh one in Nishgook,
a neighborhood on the edge of Mexico City. To the
west were low hills shaded by oaks and pines, and
to the east open plains where cows roamed freely. The
sky was so clear in the mornings, Elia could see

(01:27):
the planet Venus. Growing up immersed in nature, Elia spent
her days swimming in the neighborhood river and taking Sunday
walks with her parents, but her childhood was soon overshadowed
by political upheaval. In nineteen ten, tensions that had long

(01:50):
been simmering among the working class erupted into revolution. Francisco
Madero called for the change, again against Mexico's dictorial regime,
and while the rebels victory brought hope for a constitutional republic,
peace remained elusive. Civil war followed and Francisco, along with

(02:16):
his loyal supporters, including Elia's father, were targeted and killed.
Despite this devastating loss, Elia, her mother, and her four
brothers persevered. While in high school, she found guidance and

(02:36):
a supportive biology teacher who nurtured her scientific curiosity. Inspired,
she pursued a degree in biology at the National Autonomous
University of Mexico, better known as UNAM, and in nineteen
twenty seven, she became Mexico's first officially cured biologist. At UNAM,

(03:04):
Elia devoted herself to the study of plant life, with
a particular focus on Mexican cacti. Her research took her
on field expeditions, collecting specimens and documenting species through photography.
In nineteen thirty one, she completed her master's thesis on

(03:26):
the cacti of Teoakan Puebla, a region known for its
extraordinary plant diversity. By nineteen thirty seven, she had published
her first book, The Cacti of Mexico, which put her
at the forefront of research in her field. Elia was

(03:47):
also a highly influential educator. She mentored many students who
went on to becoming lead botanists and conservationists in Mexico,
gaining her the nickname Maestra Bravo, which translates to teacher Bravo.

(04:08):
Throughout her career, Elia OLiS classified more than seven hundred
species of cacti native to her home country and assisted
in the discovery of several Mexican cacti species. In nineteen
twenty nine, Elia was chosen to establish UNAM's herbarium, spearheading

(04:31):
research on cacti. Elia stepped away from academia after her
marriage to a respected Mexican physician for thirteen years. Her
botany career remained on pause until their divorce in nineteen fifty.
After that, Elia resumed work as a researcher and professor.

(04:55):
In nineteen fifty one, she co founded and served as
president of the the Mexican Society of Cactology. The Society's
extensive fieldwork played a crucial role in the founding of
UNAM's Botanical Garden, and Ilia became its first director. Elia

(05:17):
was also a conservationist and one of the earliest voices
advocating for the protection of endangered cactus species. She spoke
up about the threats posed by habitat destruction and over harvesting.
Thanks to her efforts, many species that might have vanished
were documented, studied, and preserved. In recognition of her decades

(05:42):
of work in the field, she had six species of
cacti named after her. Even as she faced the challenges
of aging, Elia's passion never wavered. She retired at ninety
due to arthritis, but left behind an extraordinary legacy. Nearly

(06:05):
one hundred and seventy published articles, two books, sixty scientific classifications,
and fifty nine nomenclature revisions. Today UNAM's Botanical Garden, her
lifelong project safeguards approximately twelve point seven percent of Mexico's

(06:26):
endangered cacti species In two thousand and one, Just four
days before reaching her one hundredth birthday, Ilia Bravo Holis
passed away on September twenty six In honor of her
contributions to science and conservation. The Mexican government established.

Speaker 2 (06:50):
The Ilio bravo OLiS Botanical Garden in Tewakan, which houses
several species of endangered cacti.

Speaker 1 (07:02):
All month, we're talking about cultivators. For more information, find
us on Facebook and Instagram at Womanica Podcast. Thanks to
co creators Jenny and Liz Kaplan for letting me guest host.
Talk to you tomorrow