Mexia hospitalized and diagnosed with lung cancer on May 25, 1938.
On May 25, 1938, just a day after celebrating her 68th birthday, Ynés Mexia was hospitalized and diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in San Francisco. This sudden diagnosis concluded a life marked by exploration and discovery, as Mexia had dedicated her later years to extensive botanical exploration. Despite the challenges faced throughout her career, including gender and ethnic biases, she remained a trailblazer in her field, leaving behind a considerable legacy that included the discovery of hundreds of new plant species.