Wild houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinalis

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Wild houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinalis

Wild houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinalis, and borage, Borago officinalis. Handcoloured woodblock engraving of a botanical illustration from Adam Lonicers Krauterbuch, or Herbal, Frankfurt, 1557. This from a 17th century pirate edition or atlas of illustrations only, with captions in Latin, Greek, French, Italian, German, and in English manuscript

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Media ID 23191828

© Florilegius/Mary Evans

Adam Borage Borago Captions Cynoglossum Edition Herb Herbal Krauterbuch Latin Lonicer Officinalis Pirate Sylvestre Wild Woodblock Woodcut

EDITORS COMMENTS
This hand-colored woodblock engraving showcases two intriguing herbs from the natural world: Wild Houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinalis, and Borage, Borago officinalis. Dating back to the 16th century, this botanical illustration is taken from Adam Lonicer's renowned herbal, Krauterbuch, or Herbal, published in Frankfurt in 1557. The Wild Houndstongue, also known as Sylvestre Cynoglossum, is depicted on the left side of the print. Its distinctive features include lobed, toothed leaves and a tall, flowering stem adorned with purple, five-petaled blooms. Traditionally used in herbal medicine, the plant was believed to possess healing properties, particularly for treating snakebites and wounds. On the right side of the engraving lies Borage, Borago officinalis, with its star-shaped, blue-purple flowers and hairy stems and leaves. Borage, also known as Starflower, was valued for its cooling and refreshing qualities, and was often used to make a soothing drink. The plant was also believed to alleviate melancholy and promote a good mood. This print is a testament to the rich botanical knowledge of the 16th century. The intricate details of the illustration are brought to life through the skillful use of hand-coloring. The text surrounding the image, written in Latin, Greek, French, Italian, German, and English manuscript, further underscores the international reach of botanical knowledge during this era. This pirate edition or atlas of illustrations only, without the accompanying text, offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of herbal medicine and botany from over four centuries ago.

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