Various seeds and nuts
Date
10 June 1686
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p14c
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 71mm
width (page): 123mm
width (page): 123mm
Subject
Description
Small piece of paper with 10 figures stuck to a letter by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek to the Royal Society, containing 23 figures in total.
Fig. 11: seed called Kaukin indorum brequis, or Elengi horti Malabariti as it lies in its hard rind.
Figs 12 and 13: pip or kernel of the seed which has been split open and separated into two halves; interior removed and drawn true to scale with the naked eye.
Fig. 14: beginning of the plant taken from its oil-like substance; it consists for the most part of two large leaves, in which one may distinguish, with the naked eye, the ribs or vessels, which are here lightly indicated; figure shows these two leaves spread a little, to make it more easy to distinguish them.
Fig. 15: nut or seed capsule, called Adamboe.
Fig. 16: 1/3 part of nut revealing the cavities.
Fig. 17: the seed in its hard rind, that has been taken out of the aforesaid cavity.
Fig. 18: pip or kernel from the seed.
Fig. 19: half the pip or kernel split open and beginning of plant can be seen.
Fig. 20: beginning of plant as it appears with the naked eye; leaves slightly separated so that they might be distinguished.
Fig. 11: seed called Kaukin indorum brequis, or Elengi horti Malabariti as it lies in its hard rind.
Figs 12 and 13: pip or kernel of the seed which has been split open and separated into two halves; interior removed and drawn true to scale with the naked eye.
Fig. 14: beginning of the plant taken from its oil-like substance; it consists for the most part of two large leaves, in which one may distinguish, with the naked eye, the ribs or vessels, which are here lightly indicated; figure shows these two leaves spread a little, to make it more easy to distinguish them.
Fig. 15: nut or seed capsule, called Adamboe.
Fig. 16: 1/3 part of nut revealing the cavities.
Fig. 17: the seed in its hard rind, that has been taken out of the aforesaid cavity.
Fig. 18: pip or kernel from the seed.
Fig. 19: half the pip or kernel split open and beginning of plant can be seen.
Fig. 20: beginning of plant as it appears with the naked eye; leaves slightly separated so that they might be distinguished.
Object history
30 June 1686, ‘Part of a letter of Mr. Leewenhoeck was read, containing his microscopical observations upon the seeds of several Indian plants, shewing how the leaves and the part designed for the root and stem are wrapped up within the said seeds’ (Birch 4:492).
The letter and images were also published in Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Ontledingen en ontdekkingen. Van de cinnaber naturalis, en bus-poeder; van het maaksel van been en huyd; van de galnoot, kastanie en okkernoot; van de voortteelinge van eenige zaden, vergeleken by de Voortteelinge van Garnaad, krabbe, en kreeft; waar in de deugdsaamheid van het eyken-hout bestaat, en hoe het te kennen is (Leiden: Cornelis Boutesteyn, 1686), pp. 66-86.
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Anatomia Seu interiora Rerum, Cum Animatarum tum Inanimatarum, Ope & beneficio [sic] exquisitissimorum Microscopiorum Detecta, variisque experimentis demonstrata [etc.] (Leiden: C. Boutesteyn, 1687), pp. 227-40.
The letter and images were also published in Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Ontledingen en ontdekkingen. Van de cinnaber naturalis, en bus-poeder; van het maaksel van been en huyd; van de galnoot, kastanie en okkernoot; van de voortteelinge van eenige zaden, vergeleken by de Voortteelinge van Garnaad, krabbe, en kreeft; waar in de deugdsaamheid van het eyken-hout bestaat, en hoe het te kennen is (Leiden: Cornelis Boutesteyn, 1686), pp. 66-86.
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Anatomia Seu interiora Rerum, Cum Animatarum tum Inanimatarum, Ope & beneficio [sic] exquisitissimorum Microscopiorum Detecta, variisque experimentis demonstrata [etc.] (Leiden: C. Boutesteyn, 1687), pp. 227-40.
Related fellows
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (1632 - 1723, Dutch) , Naturalist
Associated place