Plant Portrait Collection

Corypha taliera, c 1795 - 1804
Illustration of Corypha taliera, by unknown Indian artist, 1795 - 1804. Hand painted copy of an illustration commissioned by William Roxburgh, Kew Collection, c. 1795 - 1804

Livistona chinensis, ca 18th century
Watercolour of Livistona chinensis, commonly known as Chinese fan or fountain palm, by unknown Asian artist, Company Art, Kew Collection, 18th century

Fructus artischochi, 1613
Illustration of Fructus artischochi, currently accepted as Cynara cardunculus, commonly known as artichoke. Artwork from Hortus Eystettensis by Basilius Besler, 1613, volume 2

Zingiber officinale, 1887
Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger, from Köhler's Medizinal Pflanzen by Franz Eugen Köhler, 1887, volume 2, plate 202

Spider Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum), woodblock print and manuscript on paper, 1828
Wood block print and manuscript on paper, Japan, 1828. The wood block prints meassure approximately 25 cm in height. The wood block print is from Honzo Zufu or Illustrated manual of medicinal plants

Foliage, Flowers, and Seed-vessels of a rare West Australian Shrub, 1880
Foliage, Flowers, and Seed-vessels of a rare West Australian Shrub by Marianne North, 1880. Painting number 751

Mesembryanthemum simplex, 1793
Watercolour and pencil on paper by Francis Masson, 1793. Field sketch made by Masson in the Cape of Good Hope

Iris bulbosa latifolia, 1757
Gouache painting on vellum of Iris latifolia with a moth by Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708-1770), signed and dated 1757. The painting is from the Tankerville Collection, purchased 1934

Punica granatum, L. (Common Pomegranate), 1817
Original illustration of Punica granatum, commonly known as pomegranate, on watercolour and pencil on paper, from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1832B, 1st July 1817

Aloe mitriformis, 1810
Original illustration of Aloe mitriformis, from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1270, 1st March 1810. The currently accepted plant name is Aloe perfoliata

Lodoicea maldivica, commonly known as coco de mer or double coconut by William Jackson Hooker from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, 1827. Artwork from volume 54, plate 2734

Microscopical observations of cinchona bark and seedlings, 1862
Microscopical observations of cinchona bark and seedlings by Walter Hood Fitch, from J. E. Howard, Illustrations of the Nueva Quinologia of Pavon, 1862

Dracula chimaera (Vampire orchid), 1882-1897
Illustration of Dracula chimaera by John Nugent Fitch from The Orchid Album, Comprising Coloured Figures and Descriptions of New, Rare, and Beautiful Orchidaceous Plants, 1882- 1897; t. 203

Coelogyne cristata, 1877
Watercolour illustration of Coelogyne cristata by John Day, 19 January 1877. Artwork from John Days Scrapbook, volume 20, page 69

Iris (Iris sanguinea), woodblock print and manuscript on paper, 1828
Wood block print and manuscript on paper, Japan, 1828. The wood block prints meassure approximately 25 cm in height. The wood block print is from Honzo Zufu or Illustrated Manual of Medicinal Plants

Roses (Rosa multiflora or Rosa polyantha), woodblock print and manuscript on paper, 1828
Wood block print and manuscript on paper, Japan, 1828. The wood block prints meassure approximately 25 cm in height. The wood block print is from Honzo Zufu or Illustrated manual of medicinal plants

Poppy (Papaver), woodblock print and manuscript on paper, 1828
Wood block print and manuscript on paper, Japan, 1828. The wood block prints meassure approximately 25 cm in height. The wood block print is from Honzo Zufu or Illustrated manual of medicinal plants

Puya chilensis (Chilli), 1880s
Puya chilensis (Chilli) by Marianne North, 1880s. Medium: Oil on board. Dimensions: H 90.4 x W 20.4 cm

Bee Orchid
Photograph of Ophrys apifera at Kew Gardens, commonly known as bee orchid, June 2010

Angraecum sesquipedale, 1870
Angraecum sesquipedale by John Day, 30 November, 1870. Artwork from John Day's Scrapbook volume 16, page 39

Galanthus nivalis, 1832-1833
Illustration of Galanthus nivalis commonly known as snowdrop, milk flower or candlemass bells, 1832-1833. Artwork from Flora Regni Borussici by Albert Gottfried Dietrich, volume 1, plate 32

Allium senescens, 1808
Illustration of Allium senescens, commonly known as ornamental onion. Hand-coloured lithograph on paper by Sydenham Edwards, 1808. Artwork from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, volume 29, plate 1150

Cypripedium reginae (Showy orchid), 1876
Watercolour illustration of Cypripedium reginae (Showy orchid) by John Day, 12 June 1876. Artwork from John Days Scrapbook, volume 19, page 57

Rhododendron Dalhousiae (frontispiece), 1849
Frontispiece of a Rhododendron dalhousieae Hook. f. in its native locality, 1849

Ananas champaca, ornamental pineapple
Ornamental pineapple, Ananas comosus Champaca, at RBG Kew. The ornamental pineapple is not edible. Part of the Bromeliad plant family native to Tropical America it has swordlike spiny green leaves

Elettaria cardamomum, 1887
Illustration of Elettaria cardamomum, commonly known as cardamom, from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1887, volume 1, plate 74

Mesembryanthemum digitatum, 1772-1793
Watercolour on paper of Mesembryanthemum digitatum by Francis Masson, 1772-1793. The inscription mentions Dactylopsis digitata which is an old synonym the current accepted plant name

Stapelia reticulata, 1814
Original illustration of Stapelia reticulata, currently accepted as Huernia reticulata, commonly known as netted-flowered stapelia, from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 1662

Dendrobium kingianum, 1834-1849
Illustration of Dendrobium kingianum engraved by Samuel Holden from Magazine of Botany and Register of Flowering Plants by Joseph Paxton, vol 12, 1834-1849

Citrus x aurantium orange, ancient cultivar of the mandarin-pomelo hybrid complex, Honzo Zufu, 1828
Citrus x aurantium orange, ancient cultivar of the mandarin-pomelo hybrid complex, Wood block print and manuscript on paper, Japan, 1828. The wood block prints meassure approximately 25 cm in height

Allium sphaerocephalon, 1794
Illustration of Allium sphaerocephalon, commonly known as ornamental onion. Hand-coloured lithograph on paper by Sydenham Edwards, 1794. Artwork from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, volume 7, plate 251

Theobroma cacao, 1887
Chromolithograph print on paper of Theobroma cacao, showing cocoa pod and beans, from Kohler's Medicinal Plants, vol 2, plate 183, 1887

Capsicum annuum, 1887
Illustration of Capsicum annuum, commonly known as peppers, from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1887, volume 2, plate 35

Coriandrum sativum, 1887
Illustration of Coriandrum sativum, commonly known as coriander, from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen by Franz Eugen Köhler, 1887, volume 1, plate 45

Vanilla planifolia, 1805-1846
Illustration of Vanilla planifolia from Getreue Darstellung und Beschreibung Der in Der Arzneykunde Gebr├ñuchlichen Gew├ñchse : Wie Auch Aolcher, Welche mit Inhen Verwechselt Werden K├Ânnen

Hoodia bainii, 1878
Original illustration of Hoodia bainii, currently accepted as Hoodia gordonii, from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 6348, 1st March 1878. Watercolour and pencil on paper

Stapelia olivacea, 1876
Original illustration from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, published as plate 6212, 1st February, 1876. Watercolour and pencil on paper. Sent to Kew by H.E

Crinum x powellii, 1890
Illustration of Crinum x powellii, commonly known as swamp lily or Powell s, illustrated by Henry George Moon, 25th January 1890

Lilium henryi, 1891
Hand-coloured lithograph on paper by Matilda Smith, 1891. Artwork from Curtiss Botanical Magazine, volume 117, plate 7177

Anthriscus cerefolium, 1893
Anthriscus cerefolium, commonly known as chervil, from Atlas des Plantes de France by Amedee Masclef, vol. 2, t. 141. Inscriptions says pl.141. Anthrisque cerfeuil (Cerefeuil cultive)

Anethum graveolens, 1790
Illustration of Anethum graveolens, commonly known as dill, from Icones Plantarum Medicinalium by Johannes Zorn, 1790, vol 6, t.512

Allium schoenoprasum, 1788-1812
Illustration of Allium schoenoprasum, also known as chives, from Icones Plantarum Medicinalium by Joseph Jacob Plenck, 1788-1812, volume 3, plate 257

Allium ursinum, 1838
Illustration of Allium ursinum, also known as wild garlic or ransoms, from Flora Danica by Georg Christian Oeder and Frederik Michael Liebmann, volume 13, plate 757, 1838

Allium tuberosum, 1875
Illustration of Allium tuberosum, also known as garlic chives, from Flora de Filipinas by M. Blanco, 1875, plate 87, atlas 1

Agastache foeniculum, 1829
Illustration of Agastache foeniculum, also known as anise hyssop, from Edwards's Botanical Register, edited by John Lindley, 1829

Syzygium aromaticum, 1890
Syzygium aromaticum from Kohler's Medizinal-Pflanzen in naturgetreuen Abbildungen mit kurz erlauterndem Texte : Atlas zur Pharmacopoea germanica, by Franz Eugen Kohler, 1890

Tanacetum parthenium, 1890
Tanacetum parthenium, commonly known as feverfew from Kohler's Medizinal-Pflanzen in naturgetreuen Abbildungen mit kurz erlauterndem Texte : Atlas zur Pharmacopoea germanica, 1890

Acmella oleracea, 1821
Illustration of Acmella oleracea, also known as electric daisy, from Flore medicale des Antilles by Theodore Descourtilz, 1821, vol 1, plate 52

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