Pentstemon Wrightii

Chromolithograph, ca. 1851-57, taken from the Journal des Jardins. La Belgique Horticole des Serres et des Vergers.

These richly colored prints are from early issues of the Belgian horticultural journal La Belgique Horticole.  Published between 1851 and 1885 the journal focused on issues relating to the garden, orchard and greenhouse.   It is regarded by many as leading the revival of Belgian horticulture in the 19th century.  The chromolithographic plates included in the journal portrayed flowers, fruits and mushrooms.

The journal was originally published under the direction of Charles Morren (1807-1858) and later by his son Édouard (1833-1886).   Both father and son were botanists and university professors, and served as Directors of the Jardin botanique de l'Université de Liège.

The elder Morren is also known for coining the term phenology, referring to study of the seasonal cycles of animals and plants.

The lithography for the many of the plates were done by the Belgian lithographic artist Guillaume Severeyns (1829-?), but also included artists like Erin Corr, Jozef Linnig and Michael Verzwyvel.