Women as allegory for the life force of plants - or just a plant biology lesson?

[MarcoP]

With Koen's comment in mind about there not being any uses of female figures as an allegory on the biological functions of plants in any of the manuscripts he's seen... It's only perhaps a small step from female figures representing "those *spirits* which were frequently believed to transmit the occult powers of the stars to the earth" in order to explain "the medical properties of terrestrial objects, particularly plants", to a manuscript (in my mind, the VM) which goes that little bit further and illustrates those same *spirits* being the celestial influence that animates and brings to life those same plants. In a way this could actually complement many existing theories about the manuscript's links to constellations / the zodiac / alchemy etc.

I agree with your opinion, also on the basis of the existence of illustrations representing astral spirits as personifications. Of course, the personifications of the seven planets are common in late medieval works. But another work related with Alfonso X (the You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.) represents 360 angels in 12 zodiac wheels with 30 angels each.
Another example I am less familiar with was pointed out by You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view..
All image-only speculation remains rather sterile until we make progress on the language: these ideas have led Voynich researcher to some lists of 360 spirits, but attempts to match them with the labels of the so-called nymphs in the Voynich zodiac have not been successful.