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  • Carthamus tinctorius L. Asteraceae. Safe Flower, False Saffron - Distribution: W. Asia. Dioscorides (in Beck, 2003) notes the seeds as a purgative, but also advises it made up with 30 figs, which must have helped. Gerard (1640) calls it Atractylis flore luteo the yellow distaffe thistle. and follows Dioscorides in its uses, but does get the reader confused with Cnicus benedictus, calling both plants 'wild bastard saffron'. Culpeper makes no mention of it in his early works, but later (1826) have the following: ‘Wild Saffon, or Saf-flower ... accounted a pretty strong cathartic [causing diarrhoea and vomiting], evacuating tough viscid phlegm, both upwards and downwards, and by that means is said to clear the lungs, and help the phthisic [now equated with tuberculosis]. It is likewise serviceable against the jaundice
  • 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.
  • Three British wild flowers, including dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris) and meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). Coloured lithograph, c. 1856, after H. Humphreys.
  • Five British wild flowers, all types of St. John's wort (Hypericum species). Coloured lithograph, c. 1846, after H. Humphreys.
  • Four British wild flowers, including the burnet rose (Rosa spinosissima), eglantine rose (Rosa eglanteria) and dog rose (Rosa canina). Coloured lithograph, c. 1856, after H. Humphreys.
  • Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta): flowering stem. Watercolour, 1903.
  • Four British wild flowers, all types of mallow (Malva, Lavatera and Althaea species). Coloured lithograph, c. 1846, after H. Humphreys.
  • Five British wild flowers, including coral-root (Dentaria bulbifera), lady's smock (Cardamine pratensis) and rock cress (Arabis species). Coloured lithograph, c. 1846, after H. Humphreys.
  • Daffodil (Narcissus species): flowering stem. Watercolour.
  • Eight British wild flowers, including wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca), cinquefoils (Potentilla species) and water avens (Geum rivale). Coloured lithograph, c. 1856, after H. Humphreys.
  • Four British wild flowers with fruit; dewberry, two brambles and cloudberry . Coloured lithograph, c. 1856, after H. Humphreys.
  • Arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica): inflorescence and leaf. Watercolour.
  • Yellow arum lily (Zantedeschia elliottiana): inflorescence and leaf. Watercolour.
  • Arum plant (Arum palestinus?): inflorescence, spadix and leaf. Watercolour.
  • Wild tulip (Tulipa sylvestris): flowering plant. Watercolour, 1906.
  • Four British wild flowers, including whitlow grass (Erophila species) and scurvy grass (Cochlearia officinalis). Coloured lithograph, c. 1846, after H. Humphreys.
  • Three British wild flowers, including kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) and milk vetch (Astragalus hypoglottis). Coloured lithograph, c. 1856, after H. Humphreys.
  • Five British wild flowers, three Corydalis species, and two similar fumitory species. Coloured lithograph, c. 1846, after H. Humphreys.
  • Eight British wild flowers, including wild carrot (Daucus carota), bur parsley (Caucalis) and hog's fennel (Peucedanum officinale). Coloured lithograph, c. 1856, after H. Humphreys.
  • Two wild roses (Rosa hibernica and Rosa involuta): flowering stems. Coloured lithograph by W. G. Smith, c. 1863, after himself.
  • Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula): flowering stem. Watercolour, 1904.
  • A white variety of the early purple orchid (Orchis mascula): flowering stem. Watercolour by R. Baker, 1900.
  • A plant (Onobrychis sativa) related to holy clover): flowering stem. Watercolour, 1902.
  • Cobra-lily (Arisaema fimbriatum): inflorescence and leaf. Watercolour.
  • Four British wild flowers and fruit, including red currant (Ribes rubrum), black currant (Ribes nigrum) and gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa). Coloured lithograph, c. 1856, after H. Humphreys.
  • Six British wild flowers, four types of bedstraw (Galium species), squinancywort (Asperula cynanchica) and levant (Rubia peregrina). Coloured lithograph, c. 1856, after H. Humphreys.
  • Three British wild flowers, including hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) and woad (Isatis tinctoria). Coloured lithograph, c. 1846, after H. Humphreys.
  • Marsh mallow plant (Althaea officinalis): flowering stem. Watercolour, 1906.
  • Snake's head or guinea flower (Fritillaria meleagris): flowering stems and bulb. Watercolour, 1904.