Hydnora africana Thunb. (Jackal-food plant) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon created this detailed drawing of the Hydnora africana, also known as the Jackal-food plant, using ink and watercolour. The plant's form dominates the composition, its phallic shape, and textured surface drawing our immediate attention. The artist uses a limited palette of earthy tones to emphasize the plant's organic nature, while also adding contrasting textures to give the piece a tactile quality. Consider how this naturalistic style and descriptive approach, reminiscent of botanical illustrations, is not just a faithful rendering of plant life. It is a way of understanding and categorizing the natural world. What strikes me is the plant's odd shape and function. It is an underground parasite that emerges to flower, luring in dung beetles for pollination. This challenges our aesthetic expectations and destabilizes any fixed notions of beauty or natural order. The Hydnora africana reminds us that nature exceeds our preconceived categories. It keeps evolving beyond our current understanding of its structure, appearance, and purpose.