The Botany of the Commelins.A taxonomical,nomenclatural and historical account of the plants depicted in the Moninckx Atlas and in the four books by Jan and Caspar Commelin on the plants in the Hortus Medicus Amstelodamensis 1682-1710.1983.64 coloured plates. VIII,232 p.Large 4to.Cloth.

Second hand copy. Dust cover showing traces of use. Else good.-The botany of the Commelins deals with the plants pictured in theMoninckx Atlas and the four books by Jan and Caspar Commelin on theexotic plants in the Hortus Medicus of Amsterdam. Water- colours werepainted of 420 plants during the years 1686-1709 by a number of artists,mainly by Jan and Maria Moninckx. The author's main purpose is toidentify these plants and to discuss these interpretations inconnection with previously published comments, resulting in conclusionson the interpretation and typification of plant names published by 18thand 19th century botanists, mainly by Linnaeus. The plants describedwere mainly introduced from South Africa by Simon and Willem Adriaanvan der Stel (229 species), Asia (41 species) and America (97 species).Many of the plants described were the first specimens introduced inEurope. Thirteen species from South Africa, Europe and tropical Americahave their nomenclature amended. Especially attractive are the 64 fullpage colour reproductions of the original water- colours.