Chorizema Ilicifolia.

Superb engraving of the Holly Flame Pea, a Western Australian native, from a painting by Pierre Joseph Redoute who during the patronage of the Empress Josephine, produced his finest works which included numerous Australian plants provided by the great French voyage of exploration under the command of Bruni  D’Entrecasteaux.

D’Entrecasteaux anchored near Esperance on Western Australia’s southern coast, in 1792. On 14 December, the zoologist Claude Riche had gone ashore, and failed to return. A search the following day proved unsuccessful. Several senior members of the expedition were convinced that Riche must have perished of thirst or at the hands of the Aborigines, and counselled d’Entrecasteaux to sail without him. However Labillardiere convinced d’Entrecasteaux to search for another day, and was rewarded not only with the recovery of Riche, but also with the collection of several botanical specimens, including the first specimens of Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw), Nuytsia floribunda (West Australian Christmas Tree), Banksia nivea (Honeypot Dryandra) and Banksi repens.

‘A rare account of a voyage with tremendous significance to the exploration of Australia and the Pacific. ‘ Wantrup.

D’Entrecasteaux joined the French navy in 1754 and fought in 1756 at Minorca. He assumed command of the French fleet of the East Indies and in 1787, was appointed Governor of Mauritius and the Isle of Bourbon. During his voyage in search of La Perouse in 1791-92, he determined the position of Amsterdam Island, explored the coastlines of New Caledonia, Tasmania, and New Holland, and located several groups of islands.

From: La Billardière, Jacques-Julien Houtou de, Atlas pour servir à la relation du voyage à la recherche de la Pérouse. Paris

Modern common name: Holly flame pea
Modern binomial name: Chorizema ilicifolium
First described: Labillardiere 1800
Distribution: WA