A botanical plate from Hortus Eystettensis (1613), one of the most important Florilegia of the early modern period, published by Basilius Besler.

Scientific Name: Confolida, Orobus Pannonicus, Lycopsis Sylvestris
Identification: Larkspur, Hungarian Vetch, Wild Bugloss
Family: Ranunculaceae, Fabaceae, Boraginaceae

Properties: Associated with vitality, balance, and the interdependence of wild forms, this plate reflects early botanical interest in plants of both ornament and utility. In early naturalist traditions, larkspur symbolized lightness, aspiration, and transience, while vetch was linked to nourishment, resilience, and cultivated support. Wild bugloss, valued for its deep roots and restorative associations, represented steadiness and quiet healing. Together, these species embodied harmony between fragility and endurance, illustrating the early modern belief in nature’s layered virtues and the interconnected order of the natural world.