The image is a colored chromolithograph of the Hibiscus coccineus, commonly known as the American Scarlet Rosemallow, from the work 'The Native Flowers and Ferns of the United States' by Thomas Meehan, published in 1879 (Volume 2).
The illustration features a large, vibrant red flower with five distinct petals, a prominent central stamen column with yellow anthers, and a green stem with leaves. The flower is shown in a side view, displaying its radial symmetry and the overlapping arrangement of the petals. Below the main image, there are two smaller illustrations in ink: on the left, a bud of the Hibiscus coccineus is depicted before bloom, and on the right, a detailed drawing of a leaf showing its veination pattern.
The chromolithograph technique involves layering several lithographic prints, each with a different color, to create a rich, painterly effect. This image is a fine example of the art, capturing the vivid hues and delicate textures of the plant. The detail in the stamen and the subtle shading of the petals suggest the flower's natural beauty and the artist's attention to botanical accuracy.
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