When Carl Linnaeus set down his system of scientific classification for all parts of the natural world, at the top were the three kingdoms that many still reference today: plant, animal, and mineral. Within his plant kingdom was the class Pentandria, encompassing plants with five stamens.

Swiss scientist Johannes Gessner (1709–1790) was a contemporary of Linnaeus and corresponded with the Swedish botanist. Gessner, one of the first to adopt the Linnean system, was known to have sent his plates to Linnaeus (1707–1778) for feedback, including those in Tabulæ Phytographicæ, where his illustration here was first published.

This image was selected from Tabulæ Phytographicæ, analysin generum plantarum exhibentes in the collection of the New York Botanical Garden’s LuEsther T. Mertz Library.

Completed puzzle is 20" x 29"