Illustration of the natural world, a decoration that combines beauty and natural knowledge - Glandular flax by Charles d'Orbigny

Reproduction engraving of: Glandular flax (Linum glandulosum, Moench)

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 Polypetales
Subdivision of Polypetales-hypogynes
Order Hypogynae-Axospermae
Linaceae or raised family.
Glandular flax (Linum glandulosum, Moench)
Fig. 1. Bud and bract.
Fig. 2. Sexual organs of an unopened flower.
Fig. 3. A detached stamen, seen from its inner side.
Fig. 4. Entire pistil.
Fig. 5. Cross section of the ovary.
Fig. 6. Its longitudinal section.
Fig. 7. A very enlarged stigma.
Fig. 8. Seed seen from its back.
Fig. 9. Longitudinal section of the same, taken perpendicular to the plane of the cotyledons.
Fig. 10. Isolated embryo.
Fig. 11. Embryo cut longitudinally (these two figures from Linum usitatissimum, Flax.)
Fig. 12. Diagram of the flower.