YardSmart

Treasure Trove of Botanical Illustrations Live on the Internet

Black hollyhock is shown here in full anatomical
detail. (SHNS photo courtesy Kohler's
Medizinal-Pflanzen)

When I succumb to my compulsions and browse the Internet when I should be working, I always find myself lured back to the same sites. A big draw is antique pictures of plants. But these are not photos. What I'm after are botanical illustrations that existed long before the advent of photography.

Since the earliest times the need to share knowledge of medicinal plants depended on accurate identification. And when it comes to plant ID, a picture is worth a thousand words, so artists sought to render the most essential aspects of a plant for clear recognition. Later, in the 19th century, came the methods for modern scientific classification and the use of illustrations to aid in grouping related plants reached a high art form.

In the earliest works on plants _ penned during Greek and Roman times _ each drawing was an original. Later these texts were translated and the illustrations hand copied by monastery calligraphers. Then came the medieval wood block prints that allowed the same image to be used many times _ like a big rubber stamp. But these were often crude. By the time the printing press was invented, metal plates had come along, allowing for mass reproduction of very detailed images. Finally, offset printing was developed, allowing the reproduction of fully colored drawings for the most accurate identification.

Many botanical illustrations are suitable for
framing. (SHNS photo courtesy Kohler's
Medizinal-Pflanzen 1914)

Over the years I've bookmarked these archives whenever I ran across them in my research. Some are easy to find and browse. Others, like the really great government sites, can be tough to navigate. For example, you can log on to the USDA Seed Trade Catalog Collection at http://www.nal.usda.gov/special/collect/nursery/nursery.html. Inside these voluminous web sites lie treasure troves of incredible botanical images.

In an effort to share my treasure trove, I've created an e-book on my Web site that's free for anyone to download.

The art of botanical illustration was essential
for plant identification before photography.
(SHNS photo courtesy Kohler's
Medizinal-Pflanzen 1914)

"Online Botanical Illustrations" also gives you some tips on what kind of graphic files you'll encounter and how to download individual images into your computer. There are also ideas for craft, needlework and scrapbooking projects that let you bring that luscious antique illustration style into your own personal creations.

It's advisable to read the details about image rights on any Web site if you plan to use the images for other than personal use. If your printer isn't up to snuff, many of the sites have reprographic services, too. If you find an image you think is suitable for framing, the institution may be able to make a high quality copy for a fee.

Colchicum is among the most famous of all crocus. (SHNS photo courtesy Kohler's Medizinal-Pflanzen 1914)

Browsing and collecting botanical illustrations off the Net is the key to low cost holiday crafts. And it's a perfect indoor solution to frustrated gardeners during the long dull days of winter. But, most of all, it's an education that will leave you awestruck at the range and beauty of an art that all but died out with the new age of the modern photograph.

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