265 



SIMULA'S "FLORA EXOTICA." 



By James Britten, F.L.S. 



Since attention was directed (in the Gardeners' Chronicle for 

 1887, ii. 378, 444) to the very beautiful and unique collection of 

 flower- drawings bearing the above title preserved in the Department 

 of Botany of the British Museum, it has frequently been consulted 

 by horticulturists. The work has also a botanical interest, and it 

 may be worth while to publish an account of it in this Journal. 



The following is a transcript of the inscription on the title-page, 

 of which half is occupied by the coloured drawing referred to below, 

 the whole being surrounded by an elaborate border. 



"FLORA EXOTICA 



QILE SUB 



L^TIS AUSPICIIS 



ILLUSTRISSIMI AC EXCELLENTISSIMI DOMINI 



DNI. JOHANNIS GEORGII S. E. IMPERII 



COMITIS DE DERNATT. DYNASTY 



H.EREDITARII IN SYRHAGEN, OVELGONE 



ET MOHLENCAMP, SAC: CMS : MAI: CAMERARII 



DUCIS VERO REGENTIS HOLSATO GOTTORPIENSIS 



CONSILIARII PROVINCIALIS DIGNISSIMI, ET PR^E- 



FECTI TRITOVIENSIS AC REINBECENSIS SUMI 



OLIM 



In cultissimo Sierhagiensi Horto 



felicissime adolevit 



Jam vero 



In chart ul is istti pictoria arte ex 



vivis siiis coloribus reprasentata 



EXC ELLEN TLE SUM 



devotissimo animo 

 eonsecratur 



A 

 JOHAXNE GODOFREDO SIMULA. AO M.D.CC.XX." 



A slip from a sale catalogue inserted at the beginning describes 

 it as "A royal folio volume of 474 leaves (a few of which are blank), 

 containing superb drawings of flowers, inscribed with their botanical 

 names, one or more on a page, occasionally with insects or other 

 accessories. The title is beautifully painted and embellished with 

 a composition of allegorical figures, while the main contents of the 

 volume exhibit the perfection of floral painting, and are doubtless 

 not less faithful than artistic. The arms of the noble patron for 

 w r hom the volume was executed appear on the title and on the 

 massive silver clasps attached to the binding. This splendid volume 

 has been in the Klevenfeldt Museum (of which it has the book- 

 ^iof^ oTirl r-nnkins the autoeraDh of Count Klevenfeldt. M This 



