Curtis Botanical Magazine Plate 803 - Helonias laeta (Channel-leaved Helonias) | Original Hand-Colored Print

Original hand-colored antique botanical print from Curtis's Botanical Magazine - Plate 803, Helonias laeta (Channel-leaved Helonias).

• Plate: 803
• Latin name: Helonias laeta
• Common name: Channel-leaved Helonias
• Native region: North America, shady rivers of lower Carolina
• Flowering: June
• Flower colour: Greenish
• Linnaean class / order: Hexandria / Trigynia
• Publication: Jan. 1, 1805
• Artist: Syd. Edwards del.
• Engraver: F. Sansom sculp.
• Medium: Original hand-colored engraving (physical print, not a reproduction)

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

[ 803 ]

HELONIAS LAETA. CHANNEL-LEAVED HELONIAS.

. . .

Class and Order.
HEXANDRIA TRIGYNIA.

Generic Character.
—Vide No. 747.

Specific Character and Synonyms.
HELONIAS laeta racemo spicatim corymbofo, oblongo, conferto, pedicelis unifloris, post deflorationem virescente; foliis bifariis, subgramincis, latofubulatis, convoluto-capaliculatis, longis; caulinis valde remotis. G. HELONIAS erythrosperma. Michaux Fl. Amer. Bor. 1. 212. MELANTHIUM letum. Hort. Kew. 1. 488. Mart. Mill. Dict. Willd. Sp. Pl. 2. 267. The above plant, although introduced into our gardens by Lord Coventry fo long ago as 1770, has never yet been figured in any work known to us.

It is a native of North-America, and found by Michaux on the shady rivers of lower Carolina; is distinguished at first sight from bullata and asphodeloides already given in this work, by the position and form of the leaves, and from virginica, in not having the inflorescence panicled or compound. The flowers as they wither become greenish, and remain a considerable time on the plant in that state, much in the manner of those of Hydrangea hortensis. It blooms in June, and is generally kept in a pit or under a frame during the winter months. We suspect that the Helonias angustifolia of Michaux is a mere variety of this. Our drawing was taken from a plant in the garden of Messrs. Malcolm and Co. Kensington. G.

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.