Curtis Botanical – Plate 6641 – Bracted Beschorneria / Mexican Lily

Original antique black-and-white print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine — Plate 6641.

A dramatic Mexican succulent in the agave family with long arching leaves and a tall, branched flower spike bearing large, colourful bracts (bracteata) in red and green — like a giant, tropical asparagus gone ornamental. Named for Friedrich Beschorner, a German botanist.

Southern CA, Pacific NW coastal gardens (OR, WA) — beschornerias are increasingly grown as statement plants.

Uncolored plate. Condition consistent with age of volume. Each print is a unique piece of botanical history, printed on paper aged over a century.

This is an original uncolored (plain) plate from leftover publisher stock of Curtis's Botanical Magazine, printed in London. It was issued uncolored and never bound. We bought the holding at the estate of a Chicago rare bookseller. Labels and stock papers from the British dealer Wheldon & Wesley came with it. Library stamps, when present, are noted on the listing.