| Abstract Detail
Thursday Afternoon Breeding and Variation Daunay, Marie-Christine [1], Janick, Jules [2]. Iconography of the Solanaceae from antiquity to the 17th century: A rich source of information on genetic diversity and uses. THE systematic study of Solanaceous plant iconography has been a neglected source of information, although the historical record is rich. Wild and domesticated species of the Solanaceae have been associated with human culture from antiquity. Biological samples of potato (chuño) found in archeological sites in Peru ascertain its use since the 7th millennium BCE and later images are incorporated in pre-Columbian pottery. Remains of Capsicum spp. are found from 8500-5500 BCE in Peru and 7000-5000 BCE in Mexico and images of chilli pepper appear in an embroidery dating to the Nazca Period (400-600CE). Tomato (tomatl) was cultivated by the Aztecs, and is mentioned in early records of the conquest by Cortés. Hand coloured paintings of Mandragora, Physalis alkekengi and a putative Solanum nigrum are found in the Materia Medica of Dioscorides (Codex Vindobonensis, Anicia Julianae, 512 CE). Images and textual material of these species, as well as of belladonna, datura, henbane, Solanum dulcamara and eggplant are quite common in European medieval manuscripts of 14th and 15th century. The invention of printing in the 15th century accelerated interest in the compilation of plant medicinal knowledge, which turned rapidly to a botanical approach during the Age of Exploration from the 15th century onwards. Illustrations (often hand coloured) of New World Solanaceae (potato, pepper, tomato and tobacco) as well as Old World species are found in woodcuts from the midst of the 16th century; the herbals of G. Oellinger and L. Fuchs being the most outstanding. Solanaceous fruits appear in paintings of the Italian Renaissance. The time period investigated reveals fascinating interactions between societies and the plants of the nightshade family.
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1 - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Avignon,, , France
2 - Purdue University, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
Keywords:
iconography
Solanaceae.
Session: SOL07-3
Location: Ballroom AB/Monona Terrace
Date: Thursday, July 27th, 2006
Time: 2:30 PM
Abstract ID:117 |
