Brugmansia, 27th of October 2014.

Watercolor, 19 cm x 28 cm

Brugmansia is a very poisonous (and halucinogenic) flower that was presented to Europeans by >> H. Ruiz López and >> José Antonio Pavón Jiménez. They discovered the flower on one of their expeditions to Chile, Peru and other South American countries, and they called it >> Datura. In later classification Datura and >> Brugmansia were separated in different genera. Even today, they are often called by the same name - angelic trumpet.

Brugmansia on the image above was painted in watercolors on 30th of August this year. At least a further month and a half, till the mid October, the flowers were strong, and in full Autumn they assumed a warmer color, with many more tones of red.

The illustration on the image below originates from one of the best horticultural journals in 19th century Europe, Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe (Flowers from the greenhouses and gardens of Europe). >> The journal was published in a period 1845 - 1888 and it was founded by a Belgian >> Louis van Houtte - his name can also be found on the illustration. More than 2000 (!) color illustrations were published in the journal.

It is not clear who was the (excellent) illustrator - below the illustration one can read BRUGMANSIA SANGUINEA (Ruiz & Pav.), Perou, Serre temperee, and van Houtte's surname. There is no signature of the illustrator.

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Last updated on 27th of October 2014.