Colour Gallery

Study of Coco de Mer - Lodicea sechellarum

Illustration of the germinating nut, a snake twined around one of the trees and also a drawing of the cross section of the nut. The illustration includes hand written notes by Gordon on different aspects of the plant.
Major Charles George Gordon, (Charley Gordon and later Chinese Gordon') was one of the most celebrated soldiers and diplomats of the Victorian era. A somewhat eccentric character, Gladstone described him as a hero, and a "hero of heroes". His violent death at Khartoum was commemorated by George William Joy's painting General Gordon's Last Stand (1885). Sir Joseph Hooker enlisted Gordon's services in the collection of plants while Charles was appointed Governor of the Egyptian Equatorial Provinces. In 1881, Gordon went as Commanding Royal Engineer to Mauritius, and while visiting the Seychelles became interested in the Coco-de-mer. Specimens of both this tree and the breadfruit tree were sent by Gordon to Kew. In 1882 Gordon also sent an illustrated letter to Kew outlining the possibility of the Seychelles being the site of the Biblical Garden of Eden, also suggesting that the breadfruit tree was the Tree of Life and the Coc-de-Mer the Tree of Knowledge

© The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Coffea plant, Company Art

Flowers and beans of Coffea arabica: coffee plant. Watercolour by Manu Lall, an example of Company Art, 19th century commissioned from Indian artists by British East India Company employees and associates

© RBG KEW

Art, Artist, Beans, Beverage, Coffea, Coffea Arabica, Color, Colour, Company Art, Company School, Drink, East India Company, Flowers, Illustration, Leaves, Manu Lall, Painting, Styles

Flowers and Fruit of Prunus mume

Flowers and Fruit of Prunus mume from "The Useful Plants of Japan, described and illustrated" published by the Agricultural Society of Japan, 1895. Prunus mume, the Chinese plum or Japanese apricot, traditionally heralds early spring. Ume were originally cultivated for their fruits, and used to make pickles, but the beauty of the trees blossoms led to associations including resilience, longevity and good health, as well as inspiring poets and artists

© The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew