Naturalistic wall print, perfect for enriching a space with natural accents - Cuphée vermilionée by Charles d'Orbigny

Engraving reproduction of: Vermillion Cuphea (Cuphea miniata)

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 Polypetals-perigynia
Order of Apospermae aperispemae
Lythrariae family
Vermillion Cuphea (Cuphea miniata)
Fig. 1. Whole flower, front view.
Fig. 2. Calyx in profile, to show the hump from its base to its upper side.
Fig. 3. One of the bearded filament anthers taken from a 1 centimeter long bud, in profile.
Fig. 4. The same, seen from the front.
Fig. 5. Series of eleven stamens from a bud only 5 millimeters long, to show that they are then all similar to each other.
Fig. 6. Series of stamens of an adult flower, to show the alterations and abortions they have undergone.
Fig. 7. Entire pistil, extremely young.
Fig. 8. Cross-section of the same, to show that it has two very distinct and almost equal chambers.
Fig. 9. Entire pistil of an advanced, but closed bud.
Fig. 10. Cross-section of her ovary. We see that the two very thin septa are about to rupture.
Fig. 11. Cross-section of the ovary taken from a 3-millimeter-long button.
Fig. 12. Cross-section of her ovary. We see that the two septa have ruptured: the position of the axis has been indicated by a small circle next to these two figures.
Fig. 13. Adult pistil, seen from the side.