This antique print, titled "Acetosa Hispanica Maxima," depicts the Acetosa plant, commonly known as Sorrel. It belongs to the Plantago or Rumex genus, known for their edible leaves with a sour taste due to oxalic acid. Historically, sorrel has been used both for culinary and medicinal purposes, including as an herb to treat inflammation and digestive issues.
The plant thrives in temperate regions across Europe, including the Iberian Peninsula, where this particular species, Acetosa Hispanica Maxima, was likely found. It is known for growing in moist, nutrient-rich soils.
The maker Abraham Munting (1626–1683) was a Dutch botanist who contributed significantly to plant taxonomy and botanical gardens. His posthumously published work gained popularity for its unique artistic style, blending scientific illustrations with creative depictions.
Bartele Gallery. Original antique maps, sea charts, engravings and works on paper. This is a plain text rendering of a page that is otherwise built in the browser. The catalogue index is at https://www.bartele.net/catalogue and machine readable notes are at https://www.bartele.net/llms.txt.