Natural educational image, ideal for enhancing a decoration inspired by nature - Guelder Maple by Charles d'Orbigny

Reproduction engraving of: Guelder maple (Acer opulifolium, Vill.)

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
Family of Acerinae
Oak-leaved maple (Acer opulifolium, Vill.)
Fig. 1. Enlarged whole flower, with the corolla and calyx folded back to show the disc from which the stamens emerge.
Fig. 2. An anther seen from its internal face.
Fig. 3. Entire pistil seen from its wide face.
Fig. 4. The same, seen from above.
Fig. 5. Ovary cut transversely.
Fig. 6. Fruit.
Fig. 7. Seed slightly before maturity, in the fruit chamber.
Fig. 8. Section of a seed slightly before maturity, magnified twice.
Fig. 9. Embryo of the same, isolated and cut longitudinally.
Fig. 10. Isolated and slightly unrolled embryo.