A rare and decorative exotic botanical print of a Yellow Bell Orchid Tree, labeled in Latin, Malayalam, Arabic, and Sanskrit. The twelve volume Hortus Malabaricus (Garden of Malabar) was published between 1678 and 1703 as a result of collaboration between the former governor of Malabar, local Ayuverdic doctors, physicians, botanists, translators and artisans from India and the Netherlands. It is the first comprehensive record of the plant wealth of India and the medicinal uses of those plants.

Bauhinia tomentosa, also known as yellow bauhinia or yellow bell orchid tree, is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae. It is found in   India, Sri Lanka and Tropical Africa. This medium to large shrub with its attractive, light green, two-lobed leaves produces beautiful, bright yellow flowers with black to maroon coloured centres in summer. The fruits are pea like pods, slender and velvety. They are light green, turning a pale brown with age and are produced from January to June or even later. The genus Bauhinia honours brothers from the 16th century, Johann and Caspar Bauhin, both botanists and herbalists, the paired lobes of the leaves reflecting their relationship. The wood is used to make rafters for huts and the dried leaves and flower buds, and the roots and bark are used in traditional medicine in Africa and India. Three other species of Bauhinia are also used medicinally for everything from coughs, convulsions and constipation to pneumonia and venereal diseases.
The publication of the twelve volumes of Hortus Malabaricus (Garden of Malabar)  is believed to be the earliest comprehensive published work on the flora of Asia and the tropics. The volumes were published between 1678 and 1703 and was a product of the collaboration of the former governor of Malabar, Hendrik van Rheede, and a large number of Ayuverdic doctors, physicians, professors of medicine and botany, translators and artisans from India and the Netherlands. Originally written in Latin, the approximately 700 copper plate e

Title on plate: Canfchena-pou. Lat. 
Yellow Bauhinia or Bauhinia Tomentosa.

Yellow Bauhinia (Eng) 
Geelbeesklou (Afr)
IsiThibathibana (Zulu)

Hand Colored copperplate engraving, cleaned and layed on Japanese paper for long term protection.