Botanicals

During David Douglas’s day, information about new discoveries in the horticultural world was published in London by Curtis’s Botanical Magazine and Edward’s Botanical Register.

Curtis’s Botanical Magazine began publication in 1787 as an illustrated gardening and botanical journal. It was started by William Curtis an apothecary and botanist who held a position at Kew Gardens. Curtis completed 13 volumes before his death in 1800. Several long-term editors followed, and the magazine has been published continuously ever since. It is considered one of the greatest serials of botanical illustration. Initially copper engraving provided the plates which were then hand colored by up to thirty people.

Edward’s Botanical Register (1815-1847) was started by Sydenham Edwards, who had previously been an illustrator for Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, but left after a dispute with the editors. Edwards published five volumes before his death in 1819. Edwards himself created the paintings which were then engraved and hand-colored by others. After Edwards' death, editorial duties passed to the publisher, James Ridgeway. In 1829, John Lindley of the Royal Horticultural Society was appointed editor with nineteen more volumes issued before the magazine was discontinued in 1847.

For further information, see "Miss Drake" by Jack Nisbet in his monthly Boundaries column, June 2013, North Columbia Monthly.

A selection of David Douglas’s Plant Introductions

The links are to Botanicus, a web-based encyclopedia of digitized historic botanical literature from the Missouri Botanical Garden Library.

1828

Curtis, Gaultheria Shallon, Salal
Plate 2843, Text: Page 1 Page 2

1829

Edwards, Pentstemon pruinosum, Blue-leaved Pentstemon
Plate 1280, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Lupinus aridus, Arid Lupine
Plate 1242, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Lupinus micranthus, Small-flowered Lupine
Plate 1251, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Lupinus plumosus, Feathery Perennial Lupine
Plate 1217, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Ribes setosum, Bristly-stemmed Gooseberry
Plate 1237, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Heuchera micrantha, Small-flowered Heuchera
Plate 1302, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Thermopsis fabacea, Bean-leaved Thermopsis
Plate 1272, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Ribes tenuiflorum, Scarlet-leaved Currant
Plate 1274, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Viola praemorsa, Bitten-rooted Violet
Plate 1254, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Pentstemon Scouleri, Dr. Scouler’s Pentstemon
Plate 1277, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Pentstemon speciosum, Shewy Pentstemon
Plate 1270, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Pentstemon attenuatum, Taper-pointed Pentstemon
Plate 1295, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Pentstemon glandulosum, Glandular Pentstemon
Plate 1262, Text: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

Edwards, Oenothera decumbens, Decumbent Purple Oenothera
Plate 1221, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Clintonia elegans, Elegant Clintonia
Plate 1241, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Pentstemon confertum, Clustered-flowered Pentstemon
Plate 1260, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Hosackia bicolor, Two-coloured Hosackia
Plate 1257, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Pentstemon triphyllum, Three-leaved Pentstemon
Plate 1245, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Oenothera viminea, Long-branched Oenothera
Plate 1220, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Iris tenax, Tough-threaded Iris
Plate 1218, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Ribes cereum, Waxy Currant
Plate 1263, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Ipomopsis elegans, Elegant Ipomopsis
Plate 1281, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Lupinus arbustus, Half-shrubby Lupine
Plate 1230, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Helianthus lenticularis, California Sun-flower
Plate 1265, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Curtis, Eschscholzia Californica, California Poppy
Plate 2887, Text: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

1830

Edwards, Lupinus polyphyllus, White large-leaved Perennial Lupine
Plate 1377, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Potentilla arguta, Close-flowered Potentilla
Plate 1379, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Pentstemon venustum, Pretty Pentstemon
Plate 1309, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Malva Munroana, Mr. Munro’s Mallow
Plate 1306, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Spirea Ariaefolia, Beam-Tree-leaved Spirea
Plate 1365, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Rubus nutkanua, Nootka Raspberry
Plate 1368, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Collomia heterophylla, Various-leaved Collomia
Plate 1347, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Sisyrinchium grandiflorum, Large-flowered Sisyrinchium
Plate 1364, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Phlox speciosa, Shewy Phlox
Plate 1351, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Mimulus propinquus, Dwarf Yellow Monkey-flower
Plate 1330, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Pentstemon deustum, Parched Pentstemon
Plate 1318, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Ribes divaricatum, Straggling Gooseberry
Plate 1359, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Vaccinium ovatum, Ovate-leaved Bilberry
Plate 1354, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Ribes sanguineum, Purple-flowered Currant
Plate 1349, Text: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

1831

Edwards, Lupinus Sabianianus, Yellow Perennial Lupine
Plate 1435, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Gautheria Shallon, The Shallon Gautheria
Plate 1411, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Rubus spectabilis, Shewy Bramble
Plate 1424, Text: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

Edwards, Berberis glumacea, Glumaceous Berberry
Plate 1426

Edwards, Madia elegans, Elegant Madia
Plate 1458, Text: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

Edwards, Caprifolium occidentale, The North-west Honeysuckle
Plate 1457, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Purshia tridentate, Three-toothed Purshia
Plate 1446, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Audibertia incana, Hoary Audibertia
Plate 1469, Text: Page 1 Page 2

1834

Curtis, Iris Tenax, Tough-threaded Iris
Plate 3343, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Curtis, Campanula Macrantha, Large-flowered Giant bell-flower
Plate 3347, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Curtis, Arbutus Tomentosa, Hairy Arbutus
Plate 3320, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Curtis, Minulus Roseus, Rose-coloured Monkey-Flower
Plate 3353, Text: Page 1 Page 2

1835

Edwards, Diplopappus incanus, Hoary Diplopappus
Plate 1693, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Tansy-leaved Phacelia
Plate 1696, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Curtis, Gilia Achillaefolia, Milfoil-leaved Gilia
Plate 3440, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Ribes niveum, White-flowered Gooseberry
Plate 1692, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Lupinus densiflorus, Dense-flowered Lupin
Plate 1689, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Calochortus venustus, Spotted Calochortus
Plate 1669, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Gilia Archieaefolia, Milfoil-leaved Gilia
Plate 1682, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Collinsia bicolor, Two-colored Collinsia
Plate 1734, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Chelone centranthifolia, Valerian-leaved Chelone
Plate 1737, Text: Page 1

Edwards, Nemophila insignis, Shewy Nemophila
Plate 1713, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Garrya elliptica, Elliptic-leaved Garrya
Plate 1686, Text: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3

Edwards, Limnanthes Douglasii, Douglas’ Limnanthes
Plate 1673, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Calochortus splendens, Satiny Calahortus
Plate 1676, Text: Page 1 Page 2

1836

Edwards, Arbutus procera, Tall Arbutus, or Strawberry Tree
Plate 1759, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Crataegus Douglasii, The Douglas Thorn
Plate 1810, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Edwards, Caprifolium hispidulum, Bristly Honeysuckle
Plate 1761, Text: Page 1

1837

Curtis, Clarkia Elegans, Californian Clarkia
Plate 3592, Text: Page 1 Page 2

1859

Curtis, Pentstemon centranthifolius, Red Valerian-leaved Pentstemon
Plate 5142, Text: Page 1 Page 2

Curtis, Spiraea Douglasii, Douglas’s Spiraea
Plate 5151, Text: Page 1