Australian Goodenia ovata yellow-flowered ground cover. Lithograph c1898

by Maiden, J.H.

Australian Antique print of Goodenia Ovata c1898. Original Goodenia chromoliothograph published in 1898 for J.H. Maiden's "The Flowering Plants and Ferns of New South Wales".  Pretty illustration (240 x 180mm) of the flower with dissections and foliage.

Goodenia ovata was named by English botanist Sir James Edward Smith (1759-1828), who trained in medicine and lectured in botany at Guy's Hospital in London from 1788-1796. On the advice of Sir Joseph Banks, in 1784 Smith purchased the collection of Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, and founded the Linnean Society in 1788. He remained President of the Society until his death. Sir James Smith published widely on Australian plants, and contributed to the First Fleet's Surgeon-General of New South Wales, John White's "Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales" (1790). J.E. Smith published his own "A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland.." between 1793 and 1795.

The Australian plant Goodenia was found throughout the eastern coast and mountain range, and in all colonies except Western Australia. Goodenia grows to nearly 2 metres and forms a brilliant display of yellow flowers on the side of gullies in October. The glossy leaves exude resin which is quite sticky.

The page size is 240 x 180mm (9.5 x 7 inches). Image size is 225 x 150mm (9 x 6 inches).