Western Houndstongue, Exploded View

This piece was a fun exploration getting to know the beautiful Cynoglossum grande, now known as Adelinia grande, found in the forest near my home. It is called Houndstongue after the size and shape of its leaves.

Using the dissection microscope, I studied the plant, looking for connections between each part, as this is where the parts would explode away from each other. Well, I discovered that almost all parts of this plant are fused; the flower is one piece, not individual petals, for instance. I couldn’t pick off a stem or flower without tearing the other parts it was connected to. Not the best subject for an exploded view, it turns out, so it is exploded by sliced parts.

I enjoyed experimenting with a new type of illustration, getting up close and microscopic with this furry blue cutie. While some elements in this illustration go against the conventions of a traditional botanical dissection plate, such as the flower portrayed upside-down, that’s part of the fun of an experiment.