Born before Waterloo, and working into the late Victorian period, Caroline May spent nearly half a century painting the wild flowers of Britain. The daughter and sister of country parsons, she lived in Hampshire, Surrey and Cornwall, but travelled all over Britain in search of plants to record in watercolour. Nearly a thousand of her paintings have survived, in perfect condition and previously unpublished, many of them over 150 years old. Richard Mabey, conservationist and botanist, has made a selection of these paintings, chosen for their pictorial distinction and grace as well as their botanical accuracy and interest. He has written an introduction and captions for each plate, giving the botanical classification for each plant depicted, the place and date it was recorded by Caroline May and further information about its habitat and history. A biographical sketch of Caroline May is contributed by her descendent, the Rev John Tyler, and there are contemporary maps to show the sites of her botanical excursions, which can be visited today. The 86 facsimile illustrations on wide white borders are suitable for removal, mounting and framing.