item details
Walter Fitch; artist; 1865-73; London
Lovell Reeve; publisher; 1865-73; London
Overview
Plate 30 of 100 from Berthold Seemann's book Flora vitiensis: a description of the plants of the Viti or Fiji Islands with an account of their history, uses and properties (1865-73). The hand-coloured lithograph illustration by Walter Hood Fitch showcases different parts of the Carruthersia scandens Seem. plant, such as the seed, fruit and various stages of the flower.
The descriptive text written by Seemann for this illustration can be found on page 156 of the book, and it reads:
1, C. scandens, (sp. nov.) Seem. (Tab. XXX.).—Rejoua scandens, Seem. in Bonplandia, vol. x. p. 296. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, "Wa rerega," fide Storck.—At Port Kinnaird, Island of Ovalau (Storck ! n. 901).
A climbing plant, which would prove a desirable acquisition to our gardens, and flowers in Viti from December to March. The leaves are used medicinally by the natives. Mr. Storck, on transmitting the dried specimens, enclosed a coloured drawing by the late lamented Miss Mary Pritchard, and from these materials our plate has been made. The plant is glabrous in all parts except the calyx lobes, which are ciliate, the interior of the corolla tube, and the filaments. Leaves 5 inches long, 2½-3 inches broad. Tube of corolla crimson, lobes of corolla more or less white. Drupe nearly 3 inches in diameter.
Explanation of Plate XXX., representing Carruthersia scandens. Fig. 1, an entire flower; 2, the same with corolla removed; 3, the same with calyx and portion of corolla removed; 4, a stamen; 5, calyx glands, pistil and nectary; 6, ripe fruit; 7, seeds; 8 and 9, sections of seed; 10, embryo :—all, with exception of Fig. 7, magnified.