Picture Details
Ginger, detail of flowers. Watercolour and pencil on paper.
Partner:
Kew GardensImage reference:
ILLUS170.01/22.0Origin:
N.W. Himalayas, Indian SubcontinentArtist / Date:
Countess of Dalhousie, 1826-1833Size:
253 x 235 mmDescription:
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This painting is of a minor ginger species, cassumunar ginger, grown for medicinal uses. It was probably made by the Countess of Dalhousie, who made collections of plants in Nova Scotia, and in Simla and other parts of India. Lady Dalhousie corresponded regularly with Sir William Hooker and frequently sent him plants from her expeditions. She presented her Indian herbarium to the Botanical Society of Edinburgh in 1837. Her son was Governor-General of India.
The lower right inscription on this painting reads "The only specimen obtained - it was found impossible to press and dry it". Large, fleshy plants such as orchids, cacti and succulents were notoriously difficult for botanist to collect in the field; if the plant could not be dried quickly it would begin to rot. Botanists would sometimes slit open large leaves or inflorescences and remove the pith inside, in order to facilitate the drying process.
