Royal Botanical Expedition

The Royal Botanical Expedition was a scientific mission conducted by the Spanish crown in the late 18th century, primarily to explore and document the rich plant biodiversity of New Spain (now Mexico). Led by naturalists like José Mariano Mociño and Martín de Sessé, the expedition aimed to study, classify, and illustrate local plant species, contributing significantly to botanical knowledge. Their work resulted in detailed drawings, descriptions, and the discovery of many new plants, laying a foundation for modern botany and helping to understand the region’s natural resources and ecological diversity.