Sanicle & enchanter’s nightshade

The Reverend William Keble Martin spent many years of his life collecting, studying and drawing plants. This drawing is a preliminary plate for inclusion in his book The Concise British Flora in Colour published in 1965. It corresponds to plate 35 and 36 in the final work. The plants depicted are sanicle (Sanicula europaea) and enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea lutetiana). RAMM also has his herbarium collection (pressed plants).

In 1899 Keble Martin had a difficult choice to make. British forces were not doing well in the Second Boar War. Many of his university friends from the Oxfordshire Volunteer Battalion were sent to South Africa to help. However, his father made him choose between going with them and his desire to be ordained as ‘the two aims were quite inconsistent’. Keble Martin chose to follow the church.

Purchased with assistance from the Friends of RAMM.

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
99/2015/28
Collection Class
Drawings
Medium
watercolour, ink and pencil on paper
Common Name
sanicle & enchanter’s nightshade
Simple Name
drawing
Inscription Transcription
36; SANICULA EUROPAEA: CIRCAEA LUTETIANA
Production Person Initials
William Keble
Production Person Surname
Martin
Production Year Low
c1900
Production Year High
1965

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untitled: Sanicula europaea & Circaea lutetiana: sanicle & enchanter’s nightshade