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John Curtis Collection

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Flea bee-fly and sea bindweed

Flea bee-fly and sea bindweed
Flea bee-fly, Phthiria pulicaria and sea bindweed, Calystegia soldanella (as Convolvulus soldanella)

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Black-thighed epeolus cuckoo bee and fly orchid

Black-thighed epeolus cuckoo bee and fly orchid
Black-thighed epeolus or variegated cuckoo bee, Epeolus variegatus, and fly orchid, Ophrys insectifera (Ophrys muscifera) or sombre bee orchid, Ophrys fusca (Ophrys myodes)

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Gold-speckled clothes moth and wood hawkweed

Gold-speckled clothes moth and wood hawkweed
Gold-speckled clothes moth, Nemaxera betulinella, and wood hawkweed, Hieracium sylvaticum. As bark clothes-moth, Tinea corticella

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Dance fly and wild tulip

Dance fly and wild tulip
Dance fly, Wiedemannia bistigma (as Heleodromia bistigma) and wild tulip, Tulipa sylvestris

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Grain beetle and St. John's wort

Grain beetle and St. John's wort
Grain beetle, Cryptolestes spartii (Cucujus spartii) and St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Braconid wasp and mezereon

Braconid wasp and mezereon
Braconid wasp, Hecabolus sulcatus, and mezereon, Daphne mezereum

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Pied hoverfly and barren strawberry

Pied hoverfly and barren strawberry
Pied hoverfly, Scaeva pyrastri (as Scaeva unicolor) and barren strawberry, Potentilla sterilis (as Fragaria sterilis)

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Swallow-tailed moth and common elder

Swallow-tailed moth and common elder
Swallow-tailed moth, Ourapteryx sambucaria, and common elder, Sambucus nigra

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Blue helodes beetle and mare's tail

Blue helodes beetle and mare's tail
Blue helodes beetle, Prasocuris junci (Helodes beccabungae) and mare's tail, Hippuris vulgaris

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Large birch bright moth and black horehound

Large birch bright moth and black horehound
Large birch bright moth, Taleporia tubulosa (Pale chequered brown moth, Cochleophasia tessellea), and black or stinking horehound, Ballota nigra

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Leaf beetle, Psylliodes chalcomerus, on common henbane

Leaf beetle, Psylliodes chalcomerus, on common henbane
Leaf beetle, Psylliodes chalcomerus (Macrocnema unimaculata), on common henbane, Hyoscyamus niger

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Mordellochroa abdominalis beetle on a guelder rose

Mordellochroa abdominalis beetle on a guelder rose
Mordellochroa abdominalis (as Mordella abdominalis) beetle on a guelder rose, Viburnum opulus

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Water-lily cordylura fly on a white water-lily

Water-lily cordylura fly on a white water-lily
Water-lily cordylura fly, Hydromyza livens (Cordylura livens) on a white water-lily, Nymphaea alba

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Beaked triggerplant, Stylidium adnatum

Beaked triggerplant, Stylidium adnatum
Beaked triggerplant or one-celled stylidium, Stylidium adnatum. Native to King's George Sound, Australia (New Holland), imported by Robert Barclay

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Fountainbush, Psoralea imbricata

Fountainbush, Psoralea imbricata. Tiled hallia, Hallia imbricata. Native to the Cape, South Africa, sent by James Charles Tate's  Nursery and Botanic Garden in Sloane Street, Chelsea

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Barren strawberry, Waldsteinia geoides

Barren strawberry, Waldsteinia geoides
Barren strawberry or avens-like waldsteinia, Waldsteinia geoides. Native of Europe, drawn at the Nathaniel Hodson's Botanic Garden, Bury St. Edmunds

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Josephine's lily, Brunsvigia josephinae

Josephine's lily, Brunsvigia josephinae. Josephine Brunswick-lily, Tate's variety, Brunsvigia josephinae y

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Lavender-leaved anthyllis, Anthyllis hermanniae

Lavender-leaved anthyllis, Anthyllis hermanniae
Lavender-leaved anthyllis or lavender-leaved kidney-vetch, Anthyllis hermanniae. Native of the Levant, Greece, Corsica, etc. sent by Philip Barker Webb from his collection at Godalming

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Hybrid camellia, Camellia japonica

Hybrid camellia, Camellia japonica
Hybrid camellia. Joseph Knight's new Warratah camellia, Camellia japonica var. e. Cross of a warratah/anemony variety and semi-double variety

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Slender palm lily, Cordyline stricta

Slender palm lily, Cordyline stricta
Slender palm lily or narrow-leaved palm lily, Cordyline stricta. Upright dracaena, Dracaena stricta. Native of Australia, drawn at Samuel Brookes Nursery at Ball's Pond

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Coast tarweed, Madia sativa

Coast tarweed, Madia sativa
Coast tarweed and Chilean tarweed, Madia sativa. Clammy madia, Madia viscosa

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Red echeveria, Echeveria coccinea

Red echeveria, Echeveria coccinea. Scarlet navel-wort, Cotyledon coccinea. Native of Tenerife, provided by Reginald Whitley, Peter Brames and Thomas Milne of Fulham Nursery

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Stemless evening primrose, Oenothera triloba

Stemless evening primrose, Oenothera triloba. Dandelion-leaved evening-primrose. Native of North America, discovered by Thomas Nuttall, drawn from a plant at Robert Barclay's Bury Hill nursery

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Aconitum orientale

Aconitum orientale. Pale-yellow wolf's-bane, Aconitum ochroleucum. Native of the Caucasus, provided by Joseph Knight of the Exotic Nursery, King's Road, Chelsea

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Chinese primrose, Primula sinensis

Chinese primrose, Primula sinensis
Chinese primrose or cáng bào chūn, Primula sinensis. Native of China, drawn from a plant provided by Joseph Knight of the Exotic Nursery, King's Road, Chelsea

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Chinese privet or wax-tree, Ligustrum lucidum

Chinese privet or wax-tree, Ligustrum lucidum. Native to China, drawn from a plant sent by Reginald Whitley, Peter Brames and Thomas Milne of Fulham Nursery

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Star of Bethlehem, Hippobroma longiflora

Star of Bethlehem, Hippobroma longiflora
Star of Bethlehem or madamfate, Hippobroma longiflora. Long-flowered lobelia, Lobelia longiflora. Native of Jamaica and the West Indies, provided by Thomas C. Palmer of Bromley, Kent

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: False Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera truncata

False Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera truncata. Ringent-flowered cactus, Cactus truncatus. Native of Brazil, provided by Thomas Hitchen of Norwich

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Wedge-leaf rattlepod, Crotalaria retusa

Wedge-leaf rattlepod, Crotalaria retusa
Wedge-leaf rattlepod or wedge-leaved crotalaria, Crotalaria retusa

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Large-fruited catasetum, Catasetum macrocarpum

Large-fruited catasetum, Catasetum macrocarpum. Trinidad catasetum, Catasetum tridentatum. Native of Trinidad, Caribbean and South America, drawn at Mr William Anderson's Chelsea Botanic Gardens

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Vietnamese balm, Elsholtzia ciliata

Vietnamese balm, Elsholtzia ciliata. Crested elsholtzia, Elsholtzia cristata. Native to Siberia (Asia, India), provided by Mr. Walker of Arno's Grove

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Shiny-leaf prickly-ash, Zanthoxylum nitidum

Shiny-leaf prickly-ash, Zanthoxylum nitidum. Shining-leaved zanthoxylum. Native to China, provided by John Potts, drawn at the Horticultural Society's greenhouse

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Brahmi or waterhyssop, Bacopa monnieri

Brahmi or waterhyssop, Bacopa monnieri. Purslane-leaved herspestis, Herpestis monnieria portulacacea

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Langsdorff's tobacco, Nicotiana langsdorffii

Langsdorff's tobacco, Nicotiana langsdorffii. Native of Brazil, raised from seeds sent by Mr. Langsdorff at Rio de Janeiro. Plant provided by William Anderson at the Chelsea Botanic Gardens

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Prickly globe-headed centaury, Centaurea sphaerocephala

Prickly globe-headed centaury, Centaurea sphaerocephala. Native to the Iberian peninsula, raised in Chelsea Botanic Gardens from seeds received by William Anderson

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Grass-leaved goldenrod, Euthamia graminifolia

Grass-leaved goldenrod, Euthamia graminifolia
Grass-leaved goldenrod or flat-top goldentop, Euthamia graminifolia. Tarragon-leaved golden-rod, Solidago lanceolata. Native to Canada, plant provided by Reginald Whitley of Fulham nursery

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Mullein-leaved lobelia, Lobelia tupa

Mullein-leaved lobelia, Lobelia tupa. Native to Chile, drawn at Samuel Brooke's nursery at Ball's Pond

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Berberis umbellata

Berberis umbellata. Chitrian berberry, Berberis aristata. Native to Nepal, provided by Philip Barker Webb from his collection at Godalming

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Somerset skullcap, Scutellaria altissima

Somerset skullcap, Scutellaria altissima. Tall skull-cap, Scutillaria altissima. Native to the Levant, provided by John Denson at the botanic gardens at Bury St. Edmunds

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Porcupine tomato, Solanum pyracanthos

Porcupine tomato, Solanum pyracanthos. Orange-thorned night-shade, Solanum pyracanthum

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Phymosia abutiloides

Phymosia abutiloides. Bahama mallow, Malva abutiloides. Native of the Bahama islands, specimen provided by Philip Barker Webb

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Aristolochia cymbifera

Aristolochia cymbifera. Marcgrave's birthwort, Aristolochia labiosa. Native of Brazil, introduced to Kew Gardens by the king's collectors Allan Cunningham and James Bowie

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Turkish sage, Phlomis russeliana

Turkish sage, Phlomis russeliana. Russell's honesty-leaved phlomis, Phlomis lunarifolia var. russeliana. Native to Turkey and Syria

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Heart of Jesus, Caladium bicolor

Heart of Jesus, Caladium bicolor
Heart of Jesus or two-coloured caladium, Caladium bicolor. From Latin America. Provided by Samuel Brookes nursery at Ball's Pond, Islington

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Hairy lavatera, Lavatera hispida

Hairy lavatera, Lavatera hispida. Ambiguous. Native of the coast of Barbary, Algeria, plant provided by Nathaniel Hodson of the botanic garden at Bury St. Edmunds

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Downy rattlesnake plantain, Goodyera pubescens

Downy rattlesnake plantain, Goodyera pubescens. Smaller pubescent goodyera, Goodyera pubescens b minor

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Flame lily, Gloriosa superba

Flame lily, Gloriosa superba. Greenish-flowered gloriosa, Gloriosa virescens. Sent by plant hunter John Forbes from Mozambique, drawn at the Horticultural Society's gardens

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Blue fountain bush, Rotheca serrata

Blue fountain bush, Rotheca serrata
Blue fountain bush, the blue-flowered glory tree or the beetle killer, Rotheca serrata. Broad-leaved clerodendrum, Clerodendrum macrophyllum

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Nepal Christ's-thorn, Paliurus virgatus

Nepal Christ's-thorn, Paliurus virgatus. Native to Upper Nepal, seeds supplied by plant hunter Nathaniel Wallich

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Striated cyrtanthus, Cyrtanthus striatus

Striated cyrtanthus, Cyrtanthus striatus. Native to the Cape, South Africa, imported by the Hammersmith Nursery of Lewis Kennedy and James Lee

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Spreading scarlet hamelia, Hamelia patens

Spreading scarlet hamelia, Hamelia patens. Native of St Domingo, Jamaica and the Andes, Peru, Provided by Mrs Walker of Arno's Grove, Southgate

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Blush-coloured sand crinum, Crinum arenarium

Blush-coloured sand crinum, Crinum arenarium
Blush-coloured swamp lily or sand crinum, Crinum arenarium. Native of Australia, drawn at Joseph Knight's Exotic Nursery, King's Road, Chelsea

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Cryptolepis sanguinolenta

Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. Bloody-juiced pergularia, Pergularia sanguinolenta. Brought by plant hunter George Don from Sierra Leone, drawn at the Chiswick gardens of the Horticultural Society

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Papilio ecclipsis, hoax butterfly species

Papilio ecclipsis, hoax butterfly species
This insect was uncovered as hoax by John Curtis. It is infact a European brimstone butterfly with patches carefully painted on its wings. Specimen from the Linnean Society photographed by the NHM

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Scarce Swallowtail by John Curtis (1791 - 1862)

Scarce Swallowtail by John Curtis (1791 - 1862) from British Entomology

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Purple Emperor by John Curtis (1791 - 1862)

Purple Emperor by John Curtis (1791 - 1862) from British Entomology

Background imageJohn Curtis Collection: Brimstone by John Curtis (1791 - 1862)

Brimstone by John Curtis (1791 - 1862) from British Entomology


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