Compound plants in the VMS ?

[RenegadeHealer]

Thanks for taking the time to answer that, JKP. What this means is, not knowing who the intended audience of the VMs was, or what the intended uses of its herbal sections were, we really don't have any solid basis for expecting any given plant to be juxtaposed (including "compounded") with any other. Add to this already tall stack of unknowns whatever rearrangement and removal of folios has been done, by people who had no more idea of the book's intended audience and use than we do.

I know this is a lot to assume, but just as a thought experiment, let's take it for granted that You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. really is, and was always intended to be, the first and introductory page of Herbal A. This would mean that the plant on You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. was intended to the be the first plant the reader would encounter. This could be entirely coincidental, but I find it interesting that You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is not only the first plant pictured, but also one of the more realistic and agreed-upon identifications made. Could it be that the creators of the VMs initially intended to illustrate all of the plants realistically and unambiguously, but soon abandoned this plan due to time, talent, or resource constraints? Or increasing pressure to be cagey about the manuscript's contents?

Going out on this limb and deeming You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. "the first plant drawing" also makes me want to ask this question: What kind of herbal writer, with what intended audience, might see it as proper to include water lily first?