Flora of the Voynich Codex An Exploration of Aztec Plants
The Voynich Codex is one the most fascinating and bizarre manuscripts in the world. The manuscript (potentially equivalent to 232 pages), or more properly a codex, consists of many foldout pages. It has been divided by previous researchers into sect
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Flora of the Voynich Codex An Exploration of Aztec Plants
Flora of the Voynich Codex
Arthur O. Tucker • Jules Janick
Flora of the Voynich Codex An Exploration of Aztec Plants
Arthur O. Tucker Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Delaware State University Dover, DE, USA
Jules Janick Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Purdue University West Lafayette, IN, USA
ISBN 978-3-030-19376-8 ISBN 978-3-030-19377-5 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19377-5 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
For Sharon L. Tucker, Patricia M. Ryan, and our children: Angelica, Arthur IV, Melissa, Peter, and Robin. This book is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Arthur O. Tucker who sadly died on August 5, 2019 when this book was in press.
Cover image: The cover image, folio 94r of the Voynich Codex, is identified as Viola bicolor Pursh (V. refinesquii Greene). The phytomorph clearly shows linear terminal stipular lobes as in the North American native V. bicolor, not spatulate as in the Eurasian V. tricolor L. Its blue flowers match V. bicolor in contrast to the tricolored ones of V. tricolor. The delineation of V. bicolor as native to the New World and not introduced from elsewhere, was only elucidated in 1961.
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Reverend Dr. Hugh O’Neill (1894–1969)
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Preface
The mysterious Voynich Codex has been shown to be a sixteenth-century Mexican manuscript, on the basis of the presence of New World plants and animals and the presence of Mexican landmarks. The evidence dates to a seminal 1944 note by the Reverend Dr. Hugh O’Neill, who reported the presence of sunflower and capsicum pepper in the Voynich Codex, clear evidence
