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  • Nymphs in a field among cornucopias; workers scythe wheat; representing horticulture and agriculture. Stipple engraving by J. Chapman, c. 1810, after H. Corbould.
  • Albizia julibrissin Durazz. Fabaceae. Persian silk tree. Called 'shabkhosb' in Persian, meaning 'sleeping tree' as the pinnate leaves close up at night. Tropical tree. Named for Filippo degli Albizzi, an Italian naturalist, who brought seeds from Constantinople to Florence in 1749, and introduced it to European horticulture. The specific epithet comes from the Persian 'gul-i abrisham' which means 'silk flower'. Distribution: South Africa to Ethiopia, Senegal, Madagascar, Asia. Bark is poisonous and emetic and antihelminthic. Various preparations are widely used for numerous conditions and the oxitocic albitocin is abortifacient. However, studies on the seeds and bark of other Albizia species in Africa, demonstrate it is highly toxic, half a kilogram of seeds given to a quarter ton bull, killed it in two hours (Neuwinger, 1996). A useful tree for controlling soil erosion, producing shade in coffee plantations, and as a decorative shade tree in gardens. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Albizia julibrissin Durazz. Fabaceae. Persian silk tree. Called 'shabkhosb' in Persian, meaning 'sleeping tree' as the pinnate leaves close up at night. Tropical tree. Named for Filippo degli Albizzi, an Italian naturalist, who brought seeds from Constantinople to Florence in 1749, and introduced it to European horticulture. The specific epithet comes from the Persian 'gul-i abrisham' which means 'silk flower'. Distribution: South Africa to Ethiopia, Senegal, Madagascar, Asia. Bark is poisonous and emetic and antihelminthic. Various preparations are widely used for numerous conditions and the oxitocic albitocin is abortifacient. However, studies on the seeds and bark of other Albizia species in Africa, demonstrate it is highly toxic, half a kilogram of seeds given to a quarter ton bull, killed it in two hours (Neuwinger, 1996). A useful tree for controlling soil erosion, producing shade in coffee plantations, and as a decorative shade tree in gardens. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Eranthis hyemalis Salisb. Ranunculaceae Winter Aconite Distribution: Europe. The reason it was called Winter aconite and linked to Aconitum napellus as being just as poisonous is because plants were classified according to leaf shape in the 16th century. L'Obel's Stirpium adversaria nova (1571) and Plantarum seu stirpium historia (1576) (with a full page illustration on page 384 showing Eranthis and Aconitum together) along with the knowledge that related plants have similar medical properties caused the belief that Eranthis are as poisonous as Aconitum. They are both in Ranunculaceae and while Eranthis (like all Ranunculaceae)is toxic if eaten, it does not contain the same chemicals as Aconitum. Caesalpino (Ekphrasis, 1616) pointed out the error in classifying according to leaf shape and recommended flower shape. It contains pharmacologically interesting chemicals such as khellin, also present in Ammi visnaga. This is a vasodilator but quite toxic, but can be converted into khellin analogues such as sodium cromoglicate – used as a prophylaxis against asthma attacks – and amiodarone which has anti-arrhythmia actions so is used for atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias. It is endangered and protected in the wild (Croatia) because of over-collecting for horticulture. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Eranthis hyemalis Salisb. Ranunculaceae Winter Aconite Distribution: Europe. The reason it was called Winter aconite and linked to Aconitum napellus as being just as poisonous is because plants were classified according to leaf shape in the 16th century. L'Obel's 'Stirpium adversaria nova' published in 1571 and 'Plantarum seu stirpium historia' published 1576 (with a full page illustration on page 384 showing Eranthis and Aconitum together) along with the knowledge that related plants have similar medical properties caused the belief that Eranthis are as poisonous as Aconitum. They are both in Ranunculaceae and while Eranthis (like all Ranunculaceae) is toxic if eaten, it does not contain the same chemicals as Aconitum. Caesalpino (Ekphrasis, 1616) pointed out the error in classifying according to leaf shape and recommended flower shape. It contains pharmacologically interesting chemicals such as khellin, also present in Ammi visnaga. This is a vasodilator but quite toxic, which can be converted into khellin analogues such as sodium cromoglicate – used as a prophylaxis against asthma attacks – and amiodarone which has anti-arrhythmia actions so is used for atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias. It is endangered and protected in the wild (Croatia) because of over-collecting for horticulture. Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • The site of the 1862 Exhibition, as designed for the Horticultural Society: aerial view, looking north. Wood engraving, 1859.
  • Three episodes about horticultural abnormalities and one episode about a young doctor on a visit. Letterpress and wood engraving after G. Du Maurier, 1865.
  • The site of the 1862 Exhibition, as redesigned for the Royal Horticultural Society: looking north, the Albert Hall in the background, left. Wood engraving by D. J. Anderson, 1871.
  • Visitors to the gardens of the Horticultural Society of London in Chiswick, among whom is a man who rushes off believing he has an attack of the cholera. Coloured etching by H. Heath, 1831.
  • Curtis's botanical magazine.
  • Curtis's botanical magazine.
  • Curtis's botanical magazine.
  • Curtis's botanical magazine.
  • Report of the Third International Conference 1906 on Genetics : hybridisation (the cross-breeding of genera or species), the cross-breeding of varieties, and general plant-breeding / edited by W. Wilks.
  • Report of the Third International Conference 1906 on Genetics : hybridisation (the cross-breeding of genera or species), the cross-breeding of varieties, and general plant-breeding / edited by W. Wilks.
  • Paradisi in sole paradisus terrestris. Or, a garden of all sorts of pleasant flowers which our English ayre will permitt to be noursed vp: with a kitchen garden of all manner of herbes, rootes & fruites, for meate or sause vsed with vs: and an orchard of all sorte of fruitbearing trees and shrubbes fit for our land together with the right orderinge, planting, and preseruing of them, and their vses and vertues / Collected by John Parkinson Apothecary of London 1629.
  • Paradisi in sole paradisus terrestris. Or, a garden of all sorts of pleasant flowers which our English ayre will permitt to be noursed vp: with a kitchen garden of all manner of herbes, rootes & fruites, for meate or sause vsed with vs: and an orchard of all sorte of fruitbearing trees and shrubbes fit for our land together with the right orderinge, planting, and preseruing of them, and their vses and vertues / Collected by John Parkinson Apothecary of London 1629.
  • Paradisi in sole paradisus terrestris. Or, a garden of all sorts of pleasant flowers which our English ayre will permitt to be noursed vp: with a kitchen garden of all manner of herbes, rootes & fruites, for meate or sause vsed with vs: and an orchard of all sorte of fruitbearing trees and shrubbes fit for our land together with the right orderinge, planting, and preseruing of them, and their vses and vertues / Collected by John Parkinson Apothecary of London 1629.
  • Paradisi in sole paradisus terrestris. Or, a garden of all sorts of pleasant flowers which our English ayre will permitt to be noursed vp: with a kitchen garden of all manner of herbes, rootes & fruites, for meate or sause vsed with vs: and an orchard of all sorte of fruitbearing trees and shrubbes fit for our land together with the right orderinge, planting, and preseruing of them, and their vses and vertues / Collected by John Parkinson Apothecary of London 1629.
  • The horticulturist; or an attempt to teach the science and practice of the culture and management of the kitchen, fruit, and forcing garden to those who have had no previous knowledge or practice. In these departments of gardening / [New ed. of 'The suburban horticulturist' revised by J.W.L. i.e. Mrs. Jane Webb Loudon. By J.C. Loudon] ; illustrated with numerous engravings on wood.
  • A branch of a Prunus cultivar bearing both peaches and nectarines. Coloured etching by J. Pass, c. 1810.
  • Flora, seu de florum cvltvra lib. IV / [Giovanni Battista Ferrari].
  • Flora, seu de florum cvltvra lib. IV / [Giovanni Battista Ferrari].
  • Flora, seu de florum cvltvra lib. IV / [Giovanni Battista Ferrari].
  • Flora, seu de florum cvltvra lib. IV / [Giovanni Battista Ferrari].
  • The gardener's dictionary. Containing, the methods of cultivating and improving the kitchen, flower, fruit, and pleasure garden; wherein all the articles contained in the former editions of this work, in two volumes, are disposed in one alphabet. With the addition of a great number of plants / [Philip Miller].
  • Flora, seu de florum cvltvra lib. IV / [Giovanni Battista Ferrari].
  • Flora ouero cvltvra di fiori del / p. Gio. Battista Ferrari ... Distinta in quattro libri e trasportata dalla lingua latina nell'italiana da Lodouico Aureli Perugino.
  • Flora, seu de florum cvltvra lib. IV / [Giovanni Battista Ferrari].
  • Flora, seu de florum cvltvra lib. IV / [Giovanni Battista Ferrari].