NHD53/36

Heliotrope

Heliotropium Tourn. ex L.; Boraginaceae family

Original inscriptions: 天芥菜 (front lower right in ink); Tein-Kai-Tsoi (reverse lower right in pencil)

Further inscriptions: W. Ch. (front lower left in ink); Tournefortia (reverse lower right in pencil)

Flowering branch of a lilac Boraginaceae family plant, possibly Heliotropium species. On erect branch with alternate green leaves; leaves have lanceolate shape and serrated margins; golden alternate veins. Inflorescences stem at the leaves' nodes; densely flowered panicle curling at the end. At the top of the branch, two partially bloomed inflorescences, the rest of the inflorescence are smaller, and sketched, with green and pale yellow buds. The flowers are small, with lilac petals, and pale red longitudinal lines along the petals. A leafless, erect branch is depicted on the right of the main branch; further to its right, an inflorescence tendril. Lower left: dissected view of the flower members, including (top to bottom) one style, a further smaller style next to the corolla, showing five lilac petals, with pale red longitudinal veins, and five stamens embedded within the corolla tube; bracts; green sepals, and pale red sepals and bracts.

Any further details: Pencil underdrawings visible. The same plant is depicted in a different format in NHD53/35.