This Website is an extension of a reactive light installation in Tower Hamlets Cemetery park. A timeline of Biomedical imagery throughout last 10 centuries. Looking at the changes in our visual relationship and understanding of plants. The project examines how people have observed, studied and understood plants. It explores images people have created during our quest to exploit and harness the properties of plants and examines how technology has helped us understand their complexity.
All images Curtisy of the Wellcome Trust.
400 AD
Fragments of an illustrated herbal manuscript showing a plant possibly symphytum officinale. Johnson Papyrus.
Wellcome Library
Fragments of an illustrated herbal manuscript showing a plant possibly symphytum officinale. Johnson Papyrus.
Wellcome Library
1491
Coloured Woodcuts By Arnaldus de Villanova.
Wellcome Library
Coloured Woodcuts By Arnaldus de Villanova.
Wellcome Library
1518
The shanjiang plant (Alpinia japonica), Shunzhi reign period of the Qing dynasty. The roots, flowers and seeds of shanjiang are all thought to have medicinal properties. The roots are principally used to treat cold pain in the abdomen and are considered especially efficacious when boiled. The flowers and seeds are used to regulate the Qi of the middle and lower parts of the body, break down cold Qi, stop huoluan (cholera and similar diseases), promote digestion and treat the effects of alcohol. Woodblock print coloured by hand.
Wellcome Library
The shanjiang plant (Alpinia japonica), Shunzhi reign period of the Qing dynasty. The roots, flowers and seeds of shanjiang are all thought to have medicinal properties. The roots are principally used to treat cold pain in the abdomen and are considered especially efficacious when boiled. The flowers and seeds are used to regulate the Qi of the middle and lower parts of the body, break down cold Qi, stop huoluan (cholera and similar diseases), promote digestion and treat the effects of alcohol. Woodblock print coloured by hand.
Wellcome Library
1525
Woodcut illustration of the adsuki bean from Jiuhuang bencao (The Famine Relief Herbal), edition. This herbal was compiled by Prince Zhu Su (?-1425), fifth son of the Ming Taizu Emperor, the founder of the Ming dynasty. It was first engraved for publication in 1525. It contains entries on 414 edible plants, all of them illustrated. The author cultivated most of these plants in his gardens, and lived on the produce. Woodcut illustration
Wellcome Library
Woodcut illustration of the adsuki bean from Jiuhuang bencao (The Famine Relief Herbal), edition. This herbal was compiled by Prince Zhu Su (?-1425), fifth son of the Ming Taizu Emperor, the founder of the Ming dynasty. It was first engraved for publication in 1525. It contains entries on 414 edible plants, all of them illustrated. The author cultivated most of these plants in his gardens, and lived on the produce. Woodcut illustration
Wellcome Library
1542
Wellcome Library
Wellcome Library
1542
Wellcome Library
Wellcome Library
1597
Illustration of Batata Hispanorum from 'The herball' or, 'generall historie of plantes' Gathered by John Gerarde
Wellcome Library
Illustration of Batata Hispanorum from 'The herball' or, 'generall historie of plantes' Gathered by John Gerarde
Wellcome Library
1614
Illustration of a garden from Hortus floridus in quo rariorum et minus vulgarium florum icones ad vivam veramque formam accuratissime delineatae.
Wellcome Library
Illustration of a garden from Hortus floridus in quo rariorum et minus vulgarium florum icones ad vivam veramque formam accuratissime delineatae.
Wellcome Library
1633
The purple tulip and the bright red tulip
Wellcome Library
The purple tulip and the bright red tulip
Wellcome Library
1644
Painting of pepper in the meticulous (gongbi) style, in colour on silk, taken from Bencao tupu (Illustrated Herbal). The book was not completed: each volume was to have contained 14-15 paintings, but only 29 are extant. Colour painting on silk
Wellcome Library
Painting of pepper in the meticulous (gongbi) style, in colour on silk, taken from Bencao tupu (Illustrated Herbal). The book was not completed: each volume was to have contained 14-15 paintings, but only 29 are extant. Colour painting on silk
Wellcome Library
1635
Wellcome Library
Wellcome Library
1679
Wellcome Library
Wellcome Library
1682
Cross-section of sumach Printed Text with Illustration
Wellcome Library
Cross-section of sumach Printed Text with Illustration
Wellcome Library
1682
Wellcome Library
Wellcome Library
1731
Illustration showing the Mahogany tree . The numbered items are as follows: 1) Flowers 2) Cone beginning to open 3) Cone opened, with its winged seeds 4) Single seed 5) One of the parts of the shell of the cone 6) Core to which the seeds hang 7) Plant of Mistletoe growing on the Mahogany tree. Printed Reproduction
Wellcome Library
Illustration showing the Mahogany tree . The numbered items are as follows: 1) Flowers 2) Cone beginning to open 3) Cone opened, with its winged seeds 4) Single seed 5) One of the parts of the shell of the cone 6) Core to which the seeds hang 7) Plant of Mistletoe growing on the Mahogany tree. Printed Reproduction
Wellcome Library
1731
Taken from the natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants: particularly the forest-trees, shrubs, and other plants. Together with their descriptions in English and French.
Wellcome Library
Taken from the natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants: particularly the forest-trees, shrubs, and other plants. Together with their descriptions in English and French.
Wellcome Library
1794
Wellcome Library
Wellcome Library
1834
1834 Microscope drawings of plant cells in glass tubes. Coloured lithograph
Wellcome Library
1834 Microscope drawings of plant cells in glass tubes. Coloured lithograph
Wellcome Library
1850
A plant root cut to show growth rings, wood cells in longitudinal and transverse section and a root tip. Chromolithograph
Wellcome Library
A plant root cut to show growth rings, wood cells in longitudinal and transverse section and a root tip. Chromolithograph
Wellcome Library
1853
"Papaver somniferum. Poppy-white or opium" Coloured Print
Wellcome Library
"Papaver somniferum. Poppy-white or opium" Coloured Print
Wellcome Library
1862
Wellcome Library
Wellcome Library
1904
The 83rd plate from Ernst Haeckel's ''Kunstformen der Natur'', depicting organisms classified as Lichenes.
Wikimedia Commons
The 83rd plate from Ernst Haeckel's ''Kunstformen der Natur'', depicting organisms classified as Lichenes.
Wikimedia Commons
1919
Wellcome Library
Wellcome Library
1923
A plant with roots resembling a crayfish, above, and a crayfish, below. Coloured ink drawing, woodcut illustration.
Wellcome Library
A plant with roots resembling a crayfish, above, and a crayfish, below. Coloured ink drawing, woodcut illustration.
Wellcome Library
1930
Tree, plant and animal stem.
Wellcome Library
Tree, plant and animal stem.
Wellcome Library
1933
Illustration
Wellcome Library
Illustration
Wellcome Library
1975
Mitotic cell division Plant root tip Photomicrograph
Wellcome Photo Library, Wellcome Images
Mitotic cell division Plant root tip Photomicrograph
Wellcome Photo Library, Wellcome Images
1994
Light microscopy
Wessex Reg. Genetics Centre
Light microscopy
Wessex Reg. Genetics Centre
1999
Interphase cells showing pentameric X Human cells at interphase, stained to show pentameric (5 copies) X chromosomes. Light microscopy
Wessex Reg. Genetics Centre
Interphase cells showing pentameric X Human cells at interphase, stained to show pentameric (5 copies) X chromosomes. Light microscopy
Wessex Reg. Genetics Centre
2002
Sponge spicules, light microscope Arranged sponge spicules viewed with a light microscope using Rheinberg illumination. 12.5:1 on 35 mm slide. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
Sponge spicules, light microscope Arranged sponge spicules viewed with a light microscope using Rheinberg illumination. 12.5:1 on 35 mm slide. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
2002
Part of a group of diatom frustules viewed with a light microscope using Jamin-Lebedeff Polarising Interference. 160:1 on 35 mm slide. Polarized light micrograph
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
Part of a group of diatom frustules viewed with a light microscope using Jamin-Lebedeff Polarising Interference. 160:1 on 35 mm slide. Polarized light micrograph
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
2002
An arranged group of diatom frustules viewed with a light microscope using dark ground illumination. 10:1 on 35 mm slide. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
An arranged group of diatom frustules viewed with a light microscope using dark ground illumination. 10:1 on 35 mm slide. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
2003
2003 Light micrograph of wheat stem showing uredosori of wheat rust. Stained, 80:1. These sori appear as rust-coloured streaks on the wheat. The uredospores released will infect other wheat plants. light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
2003 Light micrograph of wheat stem showing uredosori of wheat rust. Stained, 80:1. These sori appear as rust-coloured streaks on the wheat. The uredospores released will infect other wheat plants. light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
2003
A light micrograph of an ash bud. The branching structures are the compound leaves. The outer segments are cross sections through bud scales. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
A light micrograph of an ash bud. The branching structures are the compound leaves. The outer segments are cross sections through bud scales. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
2004
A computer simulation of a root apical meristem, showing the cell lineages (each lineage a different colour). Computer analysis
Jim Haseloff, Wellcome Images
A computer simulation of a root apical meristem, showing the cell lineages (each lineage a different colour). Computer analysis
Jim Haseloff, Wellcome Images
2004
A transverse section through a maize root, viewed using a confocal microscope. Cells are labelled as a result of staining with a coloured fluorescent probe and autofluorescence. The image shows the emergence of a secondary (lateral) root, which originates in internally.
Jim Haseloff, Wellcome Images
A transverse section through a maize root, viewed using a confocal microscope. Cells are labelled as a result of staining with a coloured fluorescent probe and autofluorescence. The image shows the emergence of a secondary (lateral) root, which originates in internally.
Jim Haseloff, Wellcome Images
2005
Polarized light micrograph
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
Polarized light micrograph
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
2005
Marigold pollen A grain of marigold pollen. Scanning electron micrograph
Annie Cavanagh, Wellcome Images
Marigold pollen A grain of marigold pollen. Scanning electron micrograph
Annie Cavanagh, Wellcome Images
2009
Cell flower formed from a 3T3 fibroblast cell. An unusually shaped cell found growing under normal conditions. The cell nucleus, containing the DNA, is stained in blue. The cell body is stained in red to reveal the flowere like shape. Fluorescence microscopy
Steve Winder, Wellcome Images
Cell flower formed from a 3T3 fibroblast cell. An unusually shaped cell found growing under normal conditions. The cell nucleus, containing the DNA, is stained in blue. The cell body is stained in red to reveal the flowere like shape. Fluorescence microscopy
Steve Winder, Wellcome Images
2012
Collage of multiple cross sections through a single persimmon. The persimmon has been virtually sliced along a horizontal axis from left to right, giving you a bird’s eye view into the centre of the fruit (axial or transverse plane). A series of sequential ultra-thin slices through the entire fruit were taken and selected slices from that series are shown here. These images were acquired by spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which reveals details inside the persimmon without damaging it. The images are digitally coloured where contrast corresponds to MRI signal intensity and hue was changed to match the natural colour of the fruit. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Alexandr Khrapichev, University of Oxford, Wellcome Images
Collage of multiple cross sections through a single persimmon. The persimmon has been virtually sliced along a horizontal axis from left to right, giving you a bird’s eye view into the centre of the fruit (axial or transverse plane). A series of sequential ultra-thin slices through the entire fruit were taken and selected slices from that series are shown here. These images were acquired by spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which reveals details inside the persimmon without damaging it. The images are digitally coloured where contrast corresponds to MRI signal intensity and hue was changed to match the natural colour of the fruit. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Alexandr Khrapichev, University of Oxford, Wellcome Images
2012
This cross sectional view shows the various layers of the root (from left to right: velamen, cortex, stele). Aerial roots are found above ground and help absorb water and minerals as well as providing support. Scanning electron micrograph; x 55; radius of root is approximately 1.4 mm. Scanning electron micrograph
Lauren Holden, Wellcome Images
This cross sectional view shows the various layers of the root (from left to right: velamen, cortex, stele). Aerial roots are found above ground and help absorb water and minerals as well as providing support. Scanning electron micrograph; x 55; radius of root is approximately 1.4 mm. Scanning electron micrograph
Lauren Holden, Wellcome Images
2012
The artichoke has been virtually sliced along a horizontal axis from left to right, giving you a bird's eye view into the centre of the vegetable. A series of sequential ultra-thin slices through the entire vegetable were taken and selected slices from that series are shown here. These images were acquired by spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which reveals details inside the artichoke without damaging it. The images are digitally coloured where contrast corresponds to MRI signal intensity and hue was changed to match the natural colour of the vegetable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Alexandr Khrapichev, University of Oxford, Wellcome Images
The artichoke has been virtually sliced along a horizontal axis from left to right, giving you a bird's eye view into the centre of the vegetable. A series of sequential ultra-thin slices through the entire vegetable were taken and selected slices from that series are shown here. These images were acquired by spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which reveals details inside the artichoke without damaging it. The images are digitally coloured where contrast corresponds to MRI signal intensity and hue was changed to match the natural colour of the vegetable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Alexandr Khrapichev, University of Oxford, Wellcome Images
2012
Field poppy, developing fruit Field poppy or common poppy, stained transverse section of developing capsule and seeds. The red flower is often used as a symbol of remembrance. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
Field poppy, developing fruit Field poppy or common poppy, stained transverse section of developing capsule and seeds. The red flower is often used as a symbol of remembrance. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
2012
Open stoma on an orchid leaf In contrast to other parasitic plants, the majority of orchids have retained their ability to photosynthesise. Photosynthesis is a light dependent process which uses carbon dioxide and water to make energy for the plant whilst releasing oxygen as a waste gas. One open stoma (pore) flanked by two guard cells is visible in the upper left corner of the image. Guard cells control the opening and closing of stomata as required to allow exchange of gases into and out of the leaf. Scanning electron micrograph; x 600; stoma is approximately 20 micrometers wide
Lauren Holden, Wellcome Images
Open stoma on an orchid leaf In contrast to other parasitic plants, the majority of orchids have retained their ability to photosynthesise. Photosynthesis is a light dependent process which uses carbon dioxide and water to make energy for the plant whilst releasing oxygen as a waste gas. One open stoma (pore) flanked by two guard cells is visible in the upper left corner of the image. Guard cells control the opening and closing of stomata as required to allow exchange of gases into and out of the leaf. Scanning electron micrograph; x 600; stoma is approximately 20 micrometers wide
Lauren Holden, Wellcome Images
2012
Collage of cross sections through various fruits and vegetables (star fruit, conker, garlic, tinda, pomegranate, artichoke, mandarin orange, squash, persimmon, strawberry, tomato, cabbage). Ultra-thin virtual slices through the fruit or vegetable were acquired by spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which reveals details inside the object without damaging it. The images are digitally coloured where contrast corresponds to MRI signal intensity and hue was changed to match the natural colour of the fruit or vegetable. Magnetic resonance imaging
Alexandr Khrapichev, University of Oxford, Wellcome Images
Collage of cross sections through various fruits and vegetables (star fruit, conker, garlic, tinda, pomegranate, artichoke, mandarin orange, squash, persimmon, strawberry, tomato, cabbage). Ultra-thin virtual slices through the fruit or vegetable were acquired by spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which reveals details inside the object without damaging it. The images are digitally coloured where contrast corresponds to MRI signal intensity and hue was changed to match the natural colour of the fruit or vegetable. Magnetic resonance imaging
Alexandr Khrapichev, University of Oxford, Wellcome Images
2013
Lilium flower bud, section through a stained lilium bud showing the male and female reproductive organs. At the centre of the image is the pistil, the female part of the flower which contains ovules housed in an ovary. This is surrounded by 6 male anthers (white) each containing 4 pollen sacs (red circles) which will be filled with pollen grains. Around the outside of these are 3 petals and 3 sepals. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
Lilium flower bud, section through a stained lilium bud showing the male and female reproductive organs. At the centre of the image is the pistil, the female part of the flower which contains ovules housed in an ovary. This is surrounded by 6 male anthers (white) each containing 4 pollen sacs (red circles) which will be filled with pollen grains. Around the outside of these are 3 petals and 3 sepals. Light microscopy
Spike Walker, Wellcome Images
2013
Diatom siliceous skeleton. Diatoms are one of the most common types of phytoplankton and are found in most aquatic environments including fresh and marine waters. They have chlorophyll to capture sunlight and use photosynthesis to turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen, water and carbohydrate. Horizontal field width is 727 microns. Scanning electron micrograph
Kenneth png and Marlene Thaler, Wellcome Images
Diatom siliceous skeleton. Diatoms are one of the most common types of phytoplankton and are found in most aquatic environments including fresh and marine waters. They have chlorophyll to capture sunlight and use photosynthesis to turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen, water and carbohydrate. Horizontal field width is 727 microns. Scanning electron micrograph
Kenneth png and Marlene Thaler, Wellcome Images
What Plants Look Like is a research project by Locomotive.
Commissioned by Shuffle Festival
All images are curtsy of the Wellcome Trust, unless stated otherwise.