Curio

State Library of New South Wales
No. 1: ‘Campanula’; No. 2: Unidentified; No. 3: ‘Anthericum’, 1788–91

No. 1: ‘Campanula’; No. 2: Unidentified; No. 3: ‘Anthericum’, 1788–91

Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW; Purchased from Murray Marks, London, 1911; PXD 17, f. 2

Watercolour

Campanula plants have been cultivated since mediaeval times and were once used as medicine.
There are around 300 known species of the genus Anthericum.
The Bulbine lily associated with the genus Anthericum is also called native leek and yellow onion weed.
The common name for the genus Campanula is bellflower.
Campanula flowers are usually mauve-pink to purple or white. 
The genus Anthericum comes from the Greek word Antherikos meaning ‘straw’, which refers to the species narrow grass-like leaves.
Campanulas are native to the northern hemisphere where there are more than 250 species.
Bulbine bulbosa, also known as Anthericum bulbosum only grows in Australia.
The genus Campanula is Latin for 'little bell', which refers to the shape of its flowers.