ca. 1817-1824 --- An illustration from Les Roses, an early 19th-century publication of rose prints by Pierre Joseph Redoute. --- Image by © Fine Art Photographic Library/Corbis
1902 --- An illustration from a 1902 Herrick Seed Company catalog. --- Image by © GraphicaArtis/Corbis
1902 --- An illustration from a 1902 Herrick Seed Company catalog. --- Image by © GraphicaArtis/Corbis
1902 --- An illustration from a 1902 Herrick Seed Company catalog. --- Image by © GraphicaArtis/Corbis
Sprig of coffee (Coffea arabica) showing flowers and beans, 1798. Ann Ronan Picture Library. --- Image by © Heritage Images/Corbis
Nicotiana tabacum, tobacco plant, 1823. Ann Ronan Picture Library. --- Image by © Heritage Images/Corbis
Myrsitica fragrans, nutmeg, circa 1798. Print showing fruit containing the nut surrounded by ari, the source of mace. Ann Ronan Picture Library. --- Image by © Heritage Images/Corbis
Tea: branch of Camellia sinensis, 1798. Ann Ronan Picture Library. --- Image by © Heritage Images/Corbis
Wild Flowers and Berries by S. Featon. Chromolithograph by Bock & Cousins, c.1890. --- Image by © GraphicaArtis/Corbis
Basilius Besler, The Common Sunflower (Flos Solis Maior), hand-colored copper engraving, 1713, published by Eichstaett & Nuernberg, 15 x 18 cm. --- Image by © Corbis
Pennyroyal mint, purple flowers. Illustration from Images of Medicinal Plants, 1796. --- Image by © amanaimages/Corbis
Shagreen-leaved sunflower. Handcolored engraving from Flora Conspicua, 1826. --- Image by © amanaimages/Corbis
Scarlet flowered tropaeolum. Handcolored engraving from Magazine of Botany, 1838. --- Image by © amanaimages/Corbis
1902 --- An illustration from a 1902 Herrick Seed Company catalog. --- Image by © GraphicaArtis/Corbis
1902 --- An illustration from a 1902 Herrick Seed Company catalog. --- Image by © GraphicaArtis/Corbis
1902 --- An illustration from a 1902 Herrick Seed Company catalog. --- Image by © GraphicaArtis/Corbis
1902 --- An illustration from a 1902 Herrick Seed Company catalog. --- Image by © GraphicaArtis/Corbis
1902 --- An illustration from a 1902 Herrick Seed Company catalog. --- Image by © GraphicaArtis/Corbis
Clove, flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (Eugenia carophyllata). Cloves are used as a flavoring in cooking; oil of cloves is used for pain relief in toothache, in germicides and perfumes. Printmakers: D. Blair, M&N Hanhart. Ann Ronan Picture Library. --- Image by © Heritage Images/Corbis
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), 19th century. Foxgloves are a source of digitalis, used from Medieval times as an emetic and purgative. William Withering first recognised the usefulness of digitalis as a treatment for heart conditions when he used it to treat dropsy in the late 18th century. Oxford Science Archive --- Image by © Heritage Images/Corbis
Gossypium - cotton plant, 1823. Neale and Son. Different varieties formed the basis of cotton production in widespread parts of the world, including India, China, Egypt and America. Ann Ronan Picture Library. --- Image by © Heritage Images/Corbis
06 Jun 1917 --- A painting of the common sunflower --- Image by © Mary E. Eaton/National Geographic Creative/Corbis
Dark black plums, white flowers, seeds. Handcolored engraving from Images of Medicinal Plants, 1796. --- Image by © amanaimages/Corbis
Sweet chestnut, spiny fruit, leaves, flowers. Handcolored copperplate from Images of Medicinal Plants, 1796. --- Image by © amanaimages/Corbis
Aloe plant with orange flower. Handcolored steel engraving from Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle, 1849. --- Image by © amanaimages/Corbis