The North American Sylva

The following illustrations are from François André Michaux's

Histoire des arbres forestiers de l'Amérique septentrionale, considérés principalement sous les rapports de leur usages dans les arts et de leur introduction dans le commerce.

This 3-volume work was also published in English as the following:

The North American Sylva, or A description of the forest trees of the United States, Canada and Nova Scotia. Considered particularly with respect to their use in the Arts, and their introduction into Commerce; to which is added a description of the most useful of the European forest trees. Illustrated by 156 coloured envravings. Translated from the French of F. Andrew Michaux....

• Translated from French to English by Augustus Lucas Hillhouse
• Published and printed by
  • L. Haussmann, Paris, 1812-13 (in French).
  • C. D'Hautel, Paris, 1819 (in English).
• Color stipple engravings by Bessin, Gabriel, Renard, Cally, Boquet, Dubreuil, J.N.Joly (with added hand color).
• From botanical illustrations by:
  • Bessa: Pancrace Bessa (1772 – 1846),
  • P.J.Redouté: Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759 – 1840),
  • H.J.Redouté: Henri-Joseph Redouté (1766 – 1852),
  • A.Riché: Adèle Riché (1791 – 1878).

As nearly as possible, these files are named using the currently accepted species names of the illustrated trees, which for various reasons do not necessarily match those printed on the illustrations. Because the plate numbering for the 1812 French language edition starts back at one for the first plate of every genus, the numbering used here for file names is based on the plate numbers from the 1819 English edition, whether or not the plates are actually from that edition.

Vol. 1

Quercus

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 Plate	1812 Detail	1819 Plate	Detail	Range Map
1	Quercus alba white oak	Quercus alba White Oak Chêne blanc	P.J.Redouté Bessin
2	Quercus robur English oak	Quercus robur Common European Oak Quercus pedunculata Europan White Oak	Bessa Gabriel	none
3	Quercus macrocarpa bur oak	Quercus olivæformis [Q. muscosa in 1812 text] Mossy Cup Oak	P.J.Redouté Renard
4	Quercus macrocarpa bur oak	Quercus macrocarpa Over Cup White Oak Chêne frisé à gros gland	P.J.Redouté Renard
5	Quercus stellata post oak	Quercus obtusiloba Post Oak Chêne à pieux	P.J.Redouté Renard
6	Quercus lyrata overcup oak	Quercus lyrata Over Cup Oak Chêne à gland renfermé	P.J.Redouté Cally
7	Quercus bicolor swamp white oak	Quercus prinus discolor Swamp White Oak Chêne blanc des marais	Bessa Gabriel
8	Quercus montana chestnut oak	Quercus prinus palustris Chestnut White Oak Chêne blanc châtaignier	Bessa Gabriel
9	Quercus montana chestnut oak	Quercus prinus monticola Rock Chestnut Oak Chêne châtaignier des rochers	Bessa Fe.Boquet
10	Quercus muehlenbergii chinkapin oak	Quercus prinus acuminata Yellow Oak Chêne jaune	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
11	Quercus prinoides dwarf chinkapin oak scrub chestnut oak	Quercus prinus chincapin Small Chestnut Oak Petit Chêne châtaignier	Bessa Bessin
12	Quercus virginiana southern live oak	Quercus virens Live Oak Chêne vert	H.J.Redouté Gabriel
13	Quercus suber cork oak	Quercus suber Cork Oak	Bessa Gabriel	none
14	Quercus phellos willow oak	Quercus phellos Willow Oak Chêne saule	H.J.Redouté Renard
15	Quercus imbricaria shingle oak	Quercus imbricaria Laurel Oak Chêne laurier	H.J.Redouté Boquet
16	Quercus incana bluejack oak	Quercus cinerea Upland Willow Oak	P.J.Redouté Boquet
17	Quercus pumila running oak	Quercus pumila Running Oak	H.J.Redouté Renard
18	Quercus × heterophylla [phellos × rubra] Bartram's oak	Quercus heterophylla Bartram's Oak	Bessa Fe.Bocquet
19	Quercus nigra water oak	Quercus aquatica Water Oak	P.J.Redouté Dubreuil
20	Quercus marilandica blackjack oak	Quercus ferruginea Black Jack Oak	P.J.Redouté Bessin
21	Quercus ilicifolia bear oak	Quercus banisteri Bear's Oak	H.J.Redouté Renard
22	Quercus laevis turkey oak	Quercus catesbœi Barrens Scrub Oak	H.J.Redouté Gabriel
23	Quercus falcata southern red oak	Quercus falcata Spanish Oak	Bessa Gabriel
24	Quercus velutina black oak	Quercus tinctoria Black Oak	Bessa Gabrielle
25	Quercus coccinea scarlet oak	Quercus coccinea Scarlet Oak	Bessa Gabriel
26	Quercus rubra northern red oak	Quercus ambigua Graÿ Oak	Bessa Gabriel
27	Quercus palustris pin oak	Quercus palustris Pin Oak	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
28	Quercus rubra northern red oak	Quercus rubra Red Oak	P.J.Redouté Gabriel

Juglans & Carya

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 Plate	1819 Plate	Detail	Range Map
29	Juglans regia English walnut	Juglans regia Common European Walnut	[not shown] [not shown]	none
30	Juglans nigra black walnut	Juglans nigra Black Walnut	P.J.Redouté Bessin
31	Juglans cinerea butternut	Juglans cathartica Butter Nut	P.J.Redouté Renard
32	Carya illinoinensis pecan	Juglans olivæ-formis Pecanenut Hickory	Hy.Redouté Fme.Boquet
33	Carya cordiformis bitternut hickory	Juglans amara Bitter Nut Hickory	H.Redouté Cally
34	Carya aquatica water hickory	Juglans aquatica Water Bitter Nut Hickory	Bessa Bessin
35	Carya tomentosa mockernut hickory	Juglans tomentosa Mocker Nut Hickory	Bessa Bessin
36	Carya tomentosa mockernut hickory	Juglans squamosa Shell bark Hickory	Bessa Gabriel
37	Carya laciniosa shellbark hickory	Juglans laciniosa Thick Shell bark Hickory	Bessa Gabriel
38	Carya glabra pignut hickory	Juglans porcina Pig Nut Hickory	Bessa Cally
39	Carya myristiciformis nutmeg hickory	Juglans myristicæformis Nutmeg Hickory Nut	Bessa Bessin

Acer &c.

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 Plate	1819 Plate	Detail	Range Map
40	Acer saccharinum silver maple	Acer eriocarpum White Maple	Bessa Gabriel
41	Acer rubrum	Acer rubrum Red Flowering Maple	Bessa Gabriel
42	Acer saccharum	Acer saccharinum [sic.] Sugar Maple	H.J.Redouté Gabriel
43	Acer nigrum	Acer nigrum Black Sugar Maple	H.J.Redouté Joly
44	Acer pseudoplatanus sycamore maple Acer platanoides Norway maple	Acer pseudo-platanus Sycamore Acer platanoides Norway Maple	P.Bessa Gabriel
45	Acer pensylvanicum striped maple	Acer striatum Moose Wood	H.J.Redouté Joly
46	Acer negundo	Acer negundo Box Elder	Bessa Gabriel
47	Acer spicatum	Acer montanum Mountain Maple	P.Bessa Gabriel
48	Cornus florida	Cornus florida Dogwood	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
49	Pinckneya bracteata	Pinckneya pubens Georgia Bark	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
50	Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky coffeetree	Gymnocladus canadensis Coffee Tree	P.J.Bessa Rendard

Vol. 2

Magnolia &c.

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 Plate	1819 Plate	Detail	Range
51	Magnolia grandiflora southern magnolia	Magnolia grandiflora Large Magnolia or Big Laurel	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
52	Magnolia virginiana sweetbay magnolia	Magnolia glauca Small Magnolia or White Bay	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
53	Magnolia acuminata cucumbertree	Magnolia acuminata Cucumber Tree	Bessa Gabriel
54	Magnolia acuminata   var. subcordata yellow cucumbertree	Magnolia cordata Heart leaved cucumber Tree	Bessa Gabriel
55	Magnolia tripetala umbrella-tree	Magnolia tripetala Umbrella Tree	Bessa Gabriel
56	Magnolia fraseri mountain magnolia	Magnolia auriculata Long leaved cucumber Tree	Bessa Gabriel
57	Magnolia macrophylla bigleaf magnolia	Magnolia macrophylla Larged leaved Umbrella Tree	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
58	Gordonia lasianthus loblolly-bay	Gordonia lasianthus Loblolly Bay	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
59	Franklinia alatamaha Franklin tree	Gordonia pubescens Franklinia	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
60	Asimina triloba pawpaw	Annona triloba Pawpaw	Bessa Gabriel
61	Liriodendron tulipifera tuliptree	Lyriodendrum tulipifera [sic.] Poplar or Tulip Tree	Bessa Gabriel
62	Liquidambar styraciflua sweetgum	Liquidambar styraciflua Sweet Gum	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
63	Platanus occidentalis American sycamore	Platanus occidentalis Button Wood	H.J.Redouté Gabriel
64	Catalpa bignonioides southern catalpa	Bignonia catalpa Catalpa	Bessa Gabriel
65	Malus coronaria crabapple	Malus coronaria Crab Apple	Bessa Gabriel
66	Amelanchier arborea common serviceberry	Mespilus arborea June Berry	Bessa Gabriel
67	Rhododendron maximum great laurel	Rhododendron maximum Dwarf Rose Bay	Bessa Gabriel
68	Kalmia latifolia mountain-laurel	Kalmia latifolia Mountain Laurel	Bessa Gabriel

Betula & Alnus

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 plate	1819 plate	1819 detail
69	Betula papyrifera paper birch	Betula papyracea Canoe Birch	Bessa Gabriel
70	Betula pendula silver birch	Betula alba Common European White Birch	Bessa Gabriel
71	Betula populifolia gray birch	Betula populifolia White Birch	Bessa Gabriel
72	Betula nigra river birch	Betula rubra Red Birch	H.J.Redouté Bessin
73	Betula alleghaniensis yellow birch	Betula lutea Yellow Birch	Bessa Gabriel
74	Betula lenta sweet birch	Betula lenta Black Birch	Bessa Gabriel
75	Alnus serrulata hazel alder Alnus incana gray alder	Alnus serrulata Common Alder Alnus glauca Black Alder	Bessa Gabriel

Robinia &c.

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 plate	1819 plate	Detail	Range map
76	Robinia pseudoacacia black locust	Robinia pseudo acacia Locust	Bessa Gabriel
77	Robinia viscosa clammy locust	Robinia viscosa Rose Flowering Locust	Bessa Gabriel
78	Cladrastis kentukea Kentucky yellowwood	Virgilia lutea Yellow Wood	H.J.Redouté Gabriel
79	Gleditsia triacanthos honeylocust	Gleditsia triacanthos Sweet Locust	Bessa Gabriel
80	Gleditsia aquatica waterlocust	Gleditsia monosperma Water locust	Bessa Gabriel
81	Sassafras albidum sassafras	Laurus sassafras Sassafras	Bessa Gabriel
82	Persea borbonia	Laurus caroliniensis Red bay	H.J.Redouté Gabriel
83	Cinnamomum camphora	Laurus camphora Camphire Tree	P.Bessa Gabriel
84	Ilex opaca	Ilex opaca American Holly	H.J.Redouté Gabriel
85	Oxydendrum arboreum sourwood, sorrel tree	Andromeda arborea Sorel tree	iii Gabriel
86	Osmanthus americanus	rrr ccc	iii Gabriel
87	Olea europaea	rrr ccc	iii Gabriel
88	Prunus virginiana Chokecherry	Cerasus virginiana Wild Cherry	Bessa Gabriel
89	Prunus caroliniana	rrr ccc	iii Gabriel
90	Prunus pensylvanica (probably) pin cherry	Cerasus borealis Red Cherry	H.J. Redouté Gabriel
91	Aesculus flava	rrr ccc	iii Gabriel
92	Aesculus glabra	rrr ccc	iii Gabriel
93	Diospyros virginiana	rrr ccc	iii Gabriel

Populus

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 Plate	1819 Plate	Detail	Range Map
94	Populus deltoides eastern cottonwood	Populus Angulata Carolinian Poplar Peuplier de Caroline	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
95	Populus × canadensis [deltoides × nigra] hybrid black poplar	Populus Canadensis Cotton Wood Bois à coton	Bessa Gabriel
96.1	Populus deltoides eastern cottonwood	Populus Hudsonica American Black Poplar	Bessa Gabriel
96.2	Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera plains cottonwood	Populus monilifera Virginia Poplar	Bessa Gabriel
97	Populus heterophylla swamp cottonwood	Populus argentea Cotton Tree Arbre à coton	Bessa Gabriel
98	Populus balsamifera balsam poplar	Populus balsamifera Balsam Poplar Populus candicans Heart Leaved Balsam Poplar	Bessa Gabriel
99.1	Populus tremuloides quaking aspen	Populus tremuloides. American Aspen Tremble d'Amerique	Bessa Gabriel
99.2	Populus grandidentata big-tooth aspen	Populus grandidenta. [sic.] American Large Aspen Grand Tremble d'Amerique	Bessa Gabriel
100	Populus × canescens   [alba × tremula]	Populus canescens Common White or Grey Poplar	Bessa Gabriel	none

Vol. 3

Sabal, Melia, Pistacia

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator	Engraver	Image
101	Sabal palmetto cabbage palm	Chamærops palmetto Cabbage Tree	A.Riché	Renard
102	Melia azedarach chinaberry	Melia azedarach Pride of India	Bessa	Gabriel
103	Pistacia vera pistachio	Pistacia vera Pistacia Tree	Bessa	Gabriel

Castanea, Fagus, Carpinus

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator	Engraver	Image	Map
104	Castanea dentata American chestnut	Castanea vesca American chestnut	Bessa	J.N.Joly
105	Castanea pumila chinkapin	Castanea pumila Chincapin	Bessa	Gabriel
106	Fagus grandifolia American beech	Fagus ferrugina Red Beech	Bessa	Gabriel
107	Fagus grandifolia American Beech	Fagus sylvestis White Beech	P.J.Redouté	Renard
108	Carpinus caroliniana American hornbeam	Carpinus virginiana Hornbeam	Bessa	Gabriel
109	Carpinus caroliniana American hornbeam	Carpinus ostyra Iron Wood	H.J.Redouté	Gabriel

Nyssa, Celtis, Morus

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator	Engraver	Image
110	Nyssa sylvatica Black Gum	A.Rich Gabriel	iii	eee
111	Nyssa aquatica ccc	rrr ccc	iii	eee
112	Nyssa aquatica ccc	rrr ccc	iii	eee
113	Nyssa ogeche ccc	rrr ccc	iii	eee
114	Celtis occidentalis ccc	rrr ccc	iii	eee
115	Celtis occidentalis ccc	rrr ccc	iii	eee
116	Morus rubra ccc	rrr ccc	iii	eee
117	Symplocos tinctoria common sweetleaf	Hopea tinctoria Sweet Leaf	H.J.Redouté	Gabriel

Fraxinus

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 Plate	1819 Plate	Detail	Range Map
118	Fraxinus americana white ash	Fraxinus americana White Ash	Bessa Gabriel
119	Fraxinus profunda pumpkin ash	Fraxinus lomentosa   [tomentosa] Red Ash	Bessa Gabriel
120	Fraxinus pennsylvanica green ash	Fraxinus viridus Green Ash	H.J.Redouté Gabriel
121	Fraxinus excelsior European ash	Fraxinus excelsior Common European Ash	Bessa Gabriel
122	Fraxinus nigra black ash	Fraxinus sambucifolia Black Ash	Bessa Gabriel
123	Fraxinus quadrangulata blue ash	Fraxinus quadrangulata Blue Ash	Bessa Gabriel
124	Fraxinus caroliniana ccc	rrr ccc	iii eee

Salix, Ulmus, Planera, Tilia

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 Plate	1819 Plate	Detail	Range Map
125	Salix nigra & Salix lucida ccc	rrr ccc	iii eee
126	Ulmus americana ccc	rrr ccc	iii eee
127	Ulmus alata ccc	rrr ccc	iii eee
128	Ulmus rubra ccc	rrr ccc	iii eee
129	Ulmus glabra & Ulmus glabra minor ccc	rrr ccc	iii eee
130	Planera aquatica water elm	Planera Ulmifolia Planer Tree	Hy.Redoutė Gabriel
131	Tilia americana ccc	rrr ccc	iii eee
132	Tilia americana   var. heterophylla ccc	rrr ccc	iii eee
133	Tilia americana   var. caroliniana ccc	rrr ccc	iii eee

Pinus

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 plate	1819 plate	1819 detail	Range map
134 (1)	Pinus resinosa red pine	Pinus rubra Red Pine	P.J.Redouté Bessin
135	Pinus pinea stone pine	Pinus Pinea Stone pine	Bessa Gabriel	(none)
136 (2)	Pinus banksiana jack pine	Pinus rupestris Grey Pine	Bessa Bessin
137 (3)	Pinus echinata shortleaf pine	Pinus mitis Yellow Pine	Bessa Gabriel
138	Pinus sylvestris Scots pine	Pinus sylvestris Wild Pine or Scotch Fir	Bessa Gabriel
139 (4)	Pinus virginiana Virginia pine	Pinus inops Jersey pine	Bessa Bessin
140 (5)	Pinus pungens table-mountain pine	Pinus pungens Table Mountain Pine	P.J.Redouté Gabriel
141 (6)	Pinus palustris longleaf pine	Pinus australis Long Leaved Pine	P.J.Redouté Bessin
142 (7)	Pinus serotina pond pine	Pinus serotina Pond Pine	Bessa Boquet
143 (8)	Pinus rigida pitch pine	Pinus rigida Pitch Pine	Bessa Caly
144 (9)	Pinus taeda loblolly pine	Pinus tæda Loblolly Pine	P.J.Redouté Bessin
145 (10)	Pinus strobus eastern white pine	Pinus strobus White Pine	Bessa Gabriel

Picea, Abies, Tsuga, Juniperus, Thuja, &c.

Pl.	Current accepted species name	Species name used in caption	Illustrator Engraver	1812 plate	1819 plate	Detail	Range map
146	Picea abies Norway spruce épinette de Norvège	Abies picea Norway Spruce Fir	Bessa Gabriel	(none)
147 (11)	Picea mariana black spruce épinette noire	Abies nigra Black (double) Spruce	Bessa Bocquet
148 (12)	Picea glauca white spruce épinette blanche	Abies alba White (single) Spruce	Bessa Bocquet
149 (13)	Tsuga canadensis eastern hemlock pruche du Canada	Abies canadensis Hemlock Spruce	Henry Redouté Bessin
150	Abies balsamea balsam fir sapin baumler	Abies balsamifera American Silver Fir or Balm of Gilead Fir	Bessa Bessin
151	Taxodium distichum bald-cypress cyprès chauve	Cupressus disticha Cypress	Bessa Gabriel
152	Chamaecyparis thyoides Atlantic white cedar cyprès blanc Atlantique	Cupressus thyoïdes White Cedar	Bessa Gabriel
153 (4)	Larix laricina tamarack mélèze laricin	Larix americana American Larch	Bessa Gabriel
154	Cedrus libani Lebanon cedar cèdre du Liban	Larix cedrus Cedar of Lebanon	Bessa Gabriel
155	Juniperus virginiana eastern red cedar genévrier rouge	Juniperus virginiana Red Cedar	Bessa Gabriel
156	Thuja occidentalis northern white cedar thuya occidental	Thuya occidentalis Arbor viæ or White cedar	H.J.Redouté Gabriel