Flowers and Ferns
of the United States

Background:

These botanical prints are from a work by Thomas Meehan (1826-1901) on the Flowers and Ferns found in the United States.  Meehan, who was born in England, started his career in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew and emigrated to the United States in his early 20s.  Settling in Germantown, Pennsylvania Meehan started a nursery where he could pursue his interest in botany from both a commercial and scientific standpoint.

In addition to this work, Meehan also published a monthly horticultural journal.

The chromolithograph plates shown here are based on illustrations by Alois Lunzer.  The accompanying text was authored by Meehan.   A copy of the text pages is provided with each print.

Meehan's work is regarded as one of the significant contributions to the history of American botany, more than fulfilling the need he stated in the preface on the "want [for] a systematic, illustrated work on the Flora of the United States".