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Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiacae, Sandbox Tree): PD.117-1973.17

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Titles

Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiacae, Sandbox Tree)

Maker(s)

Draughtsman: Ehret, Georg Dionysius

Entities

Categories

Description

Study of portion of fleshy stem with leaves, purple flower, bud and seed-cone, and lower left to right, separate studies of various stages of growth from blossom to fruit including cross-sections and dissections alphabetically inscribed. Removed from album and mounted separately.

Measurements and weight

Height: 536 mm
Width: 373 mm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1973) by Fairhaven, Henry Rogers Broughton

Dating

1730s
Production date: AD 1738-11

School or Style

German

Materials used in production

Watercolour
Bodycolour
Graphite
Gum arabic
Ground (material)

Components of the work

Support composed of vellum (skin)

Techniques used in production

Watercolour : Watercolour and bodycolour with gum Arabic over graphite outline on vellum

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: HURA; Americana Abutili folio. H.L. / floruit in Horto Chelseyano Mense Novembri 1738. Georgius Dionysius Ehret. observavit / et. delineavit.
  • Location: Below
  • Method of creation: Ink

Inscription present: corresponding to letters 'a' to 'z' from left to right on various studies of the plant

  • Text: a. Julus coni formâ e pediculo suo penens confitis squamulis quarum = / etrema eleganter rubent. / b. Idem longituinaliter dissectus, ut apices appareant. / c. Squama una separata, conspecta per Microscopium. / d. Cuticula reflexa, introrsum cava & situs stami = = num per lentem visus. / e. Stamina vel potius apices naturali = = magnitudine. / f. Eadem exterius visa per = Microscopium. / g. ut interius apparent. / h. Apex oculo nudo visus. / i. Iden per lentem auctus. / k. Stygma cum vagina, Calyx et Pedunculus, in situ naturali. / l. Eademque longitudinaliter dissecta. / m. Stygma a tergo visum. / n. Pedunculus cum Calyce. / o. Germen cum Pistillo. / p. Pedunculus & Calyx, Germine remoto longitudinaliter dissecta. / . q. locus fructificationis. / r. Fructus immaturus horizontaliter dissectus. / s. Idem longitudinaliter dissectus. / t. Fructus maturus.
  • Location: Lower left
  • Method of creation: Ink
  • Text: u. Capsula seminalis. / v. Capsulae pars superior. / x. pars inferior. / y. Semen. / z. Idem transversaliter dissectum.
  • Location: Lower right
  • Method of creation: Ink
  • Text: 94
  • Location: Verso
  • Method of creation: Ink

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: PD.117-1973.17
Primary reference Number: 31635

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 15 October 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiacae, Sandbox Tree)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/31635 Accessed: 2025-12-05 06:18:54

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/31635 |title=Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiacae, Sandbox Tree) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 06:18:54|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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