Stam van de drakenbloedboom bij La Orotava 1856 - 1858

This photo, “Stam van de drakenbloedboom bij La Orotava,” was taken by astronomer Charles Piazzi Smyth in 1856-1858 during his travels to Tenerife. The image captures a close-up view of the trunk of a dragon tree, a species native to the Canary Islands. The photo is a photo-negative, showing the tree in shades of grey and emphasizing the rough texture of the bark. Smyth's use of photography to document his scientific observations is evident in this image. This photo, and others like it, are important records of the natural world during a time of significant scientific advancement.