Scientific decorative painting, an elegant addition to a decor inspired by life - Leschenaultie élégant by Charles d'Orbigny

Reproduction engraving of: Leschenaultie elegante (Leschenaultia formosa, R. Br.)

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 Eumonopetalea-perigynia
Goodeniaceae family
Elegant leschenaultie (Leschenaultia formosa, R. Br.)
Fig. 1. Whole flower seen slightly from above and from the front.
Fig. 2. Whole flower seen from the side.
Fig. 3. Whole flower seen from its split lower side.
Fig. 4. Calyx and sexual organs of a blooming flower.
Fig. 5. Sexual organs of a closed bud; the stigma is still lodged under the vault formed by the anthers.
Fig. 6. The stigmatic pouch, or indusium of the same bud, fully gaping to receive the pollen.
Fig. 7. Same part of the open flower, whose two lips have come together after the pollen has entered.
Fig. 8. Open anther.
Fig. 9. Same part of another open flower, enlarged.
Fig. 10. Same part of another open flower, enlarged, seen from above.
Fig. 11. Vertical section of the indusium, highly magnified. The section of the stigmatic tissue is seen internally.
Fig. 12. Entire ovary slightly more than doubled.
Fig. 13. Cross section of the same, enlarged.
Fig. 14. Dry pollen grain, magnified to 230 diameters.