Artistic print on nature, a decoration that combines beauty and natural knowledge - Virginia Gyroselle by Charles d'Orbigny

Engraving reproduction of: Virginia Gyrosella (Dodecatheon meadia, Lin.)

Illustration taken from the Universal Dictionary of Natural History, written under the direction of Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny (1806-1876) and published from 1841 to 1849.

This work, considered one of the major achievements of the 19th century in terms of scientific synthesis and quality popularization, wonderfully illustrating the great beauty and impressive diversity of the biological world, was supplemented by a certain amount of scientific information, some extracts of which are reproduced below.

Important note: the scientific classification elements of the time have been preserved as they are and may of course be obsolete today.

Scientific classification and description of the species present in the engraving:

Class of Dicotyledonous Plants
Subclass Monopetals
Subdivision of Semi-monopetalous
Primulaceae family
Virginia Gyroselle (Dodecatheon meadia, Lin.)
• Reduced by more than half.
Fig. 1. Button.
Fig. 2. Blooming flower, natural size.
Fig. 3. Longitudinal section of the flower in which the corolla has been truncated.
Fig. 4. Two stamens removed with the two divisions of the corolla to which they are opposite, taken in the very advanced bud.
Fig. 5. A stamen, seen from the side to show its insertion on the corolla.
Fig. 6. An unopened stamen, seen from its inner side.
Fig. 7. Cross section of the anther.
Fig. 8. Entire pistil.
Fig. 9. Its central placenta covered with ovules, isolated and doubled.