Botany, Australian, Eremophila alternatfolia "Forest Flora of South Australia" 1882-1890 Antique Print

Common name:Narrow-Leaved Poverty Bush. First described by Robert Brown in 1810 (Matthew Flinders Voyage 1800-1804?)

Distribution: NSW, SA NT, southern WA.  Medical: Aborigines used for colds & skin infections. Leaf compounds being investigated for medications to assist in cardiac conditions.

Antique chromolithograph drawn on stone by H. Barratt and lithographed by E Spiller after Rosa Catherine Fiveash (1855-1938), born in Adelaide and was trained in scientific illustration for this large project that she worked on for 8 years. She was still painting until 80 years of age.

Printed at the Government Printer (corner of King William Rd./North Tce) by E. Spiller, issued by subscription 1882-90 for John Edne Brown's Forest Flora of South Australia

Condition: Excellent

Paper Size 55 x 41cm (22 x 16.4 inch) / Image Size 44.5 x 34cm (17.8 x 13.6 inch)

Issued with Certificate of Authenticity.

 John Ednie Brown (1848-1899) Born in Scotland, Brown visited the USA in 1871 and wrote a report on the Californian forests. Soon after this that he was offered the position of Conservator of Forests in South Australia. Not only had was South Australia's native habitats put under pressure by commercial cropping but also by pastoral activities, hence growing concern. Brown had seen similar pressures on the California flora so set about recording the  largest & most accurate group of lithographs depicting Australian native plants made in the colonial period. This would serve as a local botanical record, the Botanical Gardens established in 1856 could harvest and store seeds, and local artist, Rose Catherine Fiveash, was taught to depict the samples for classification. They were chromolithographed (Printed in colour ink off lithographic Bavarian Limestone blocks) and printed by the Government Printer in Adelaide.