Ambel, (Nymphaea pubescens Willd.)

The volumes of Hortus Malabaricus are also notable for their exquisite copper plate botanical illustrations, made in Holland from drawings of plant specimens made in India. These illustrations are some of the first scientific illustrations made in India. The technique of copperplate engraving, highly refined in Europe by the end of the 16th century, records exquisite details of specimens compared to woodcut illustrations used earlier (see section 4 image 8 Carcapuli - Garcinia cambogia (indica)). This double folio illustration of Ambel, Nymphaea pubescens Willd, is an example of the copper plate illustrations (one of 791) of the flora of the South West Coast of India, and is an example of early scientific botanical illustrations.