Curtis Botanical - Plate 259 - Lilium catesbaei / Catesby's Lily

Original hand-colored antique botanical print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine - Plate 259, Lilium catesbaei (Catesby's Lily).

• Plate: 259
• Latin name: Lilium catesbaei
• Common name: Catesby's Lily
• Native region: South Carolina
• Flowering: July and August
• Flower colour: Red
• Linnaean class / order: Hexandria / Monogynia
• Publication: Apr. 1 1794
• Medium: Original hand-colored engraving (physical print, not a reproduction)

Original Curtis text
Transcribed from the plate's accompanying description page:

[ 259 ]

LILIUM CATESBAEI. CATESBY'S LILY.

. . .

Class and Order.
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

Generic Character.
Cor. 6-petala campanulata: linea longitudinali nectarifera. Capf. valvulis pilo cancellato connexis.

Specific Character and Synonyms.
LILIUM Catesbaei caule unifloro, petalis erectis unguiculatis. Linn. Syft. Nat. ed. 12. Gmel. p. 545. LILIUM Catesbaei foliis sparis, bipedali, flore unico erecto, corolle campanulata, petalis unguibus angulis longis. Walt. Fl. Carol. p. 123. LILIUM Spicabile foliis sparis; floribus foliatris erectis; pelalorum unguibus angulis, alternis extus utrinque fulcatis, laminis revolutis. Saijb. Ic. Stirp. rar. t. 5. At the close of the year 1787, Mr. ROBERT SQUIBB, sent me from South-Carolina roots of the Lily here figured, many of which have since flowered with various persons in this kingdom. CATESBY in his Natural History of Carolina, gives a figure and short account of it; WALTER in his Flora Caroliniana describes it under the name of Lilium Catesbaei; Mr. SALISBURY in the first number of his very magnificent work, lately published, presents us with a very highly finished likenesses of this lily, accompanied by a most accurate and minute description of it, and judging from some appearances in CATESBY's figure, that it was not the Lilium Catesbaei of WALTER, names it Specabile; but as we are assured by Mr. SQUIBB, who assisted his friend WALTER in his publication, that it was the lily figured by CATESBY, we have continued the name given in honour of that Naturalist. Of the different Lilies cultivated in this country, this is to be numbered among the least, the whole plant when in bloom being frequently little more than a foot high; in its native foil it is described as growing to the height of two feet; the stalk is terminated by one upright flower, of the form and colour represented on the plate; we have observed it to vary considerably in the breadth of its petals, in their colour, and spots.

It flowers usually in July and August. This plant may be raised from seeds, or increased by offsets, which, however, are not very plentifully produced, nor is the plant to be made grow in perfection without great care, the roots in particular are to be guarded against frost; the soil and situation may be the fame as recommended for the Cyclamen Coum. p. 4. v. 1.

This print comes from our Curtis archive (via the Royal Horticultural Society and Wheldon & Wesley). Sold as an original historic plate - please review photos for condition.