Tulipa gesneriana var. dracontia (Parrot Tulip) 1816

This anonymous botanical illustration from 1816 depicts a *Tulipa gesneriana var. dracontia* (Parrot Tulip). The artist meticulously captures the flower's unique, ruffled petals in shades of yellow and red. The detailed depiction of the tulip's stem and leaves, rendered in soft greens, showcases the artist's mastery of watercolor technique. This print, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, exemplifies the popularity of botanical illustrations in the 19th century, a time when scientific exploration and appreciation for the natural world flourished.