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Phytomorph and Geomorph Identification

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Unraveling the Voynich Codex

Part of the book series: Fascinating Life Sciences ((FLS))

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Abstract

The Voynich Codex is largely an herbal with an estimated 359 illustrations of plants (phytomorphs) in the Herbal and Pharmaceutical sections. In 1944, the distinguished botanical taxonomist Hugh O’Neill identified New World plants in the Voynich Codex, including the sunflower and capsicum pepper. In 2013, Arthur O. Tucker and Rexford H. Talbert identified 37 plants indigenous to colonial New Spain. Later, in 2016, Tucker and Jules Janick expanded this to 58 phytomorphs and 55 species. Identifications here include 60 phytomorphs and 57 species, all indigenous to colonial New Spain or circumboreal. No European plants have been identified. Many were medicinal plants. The geomorph boleite was identified. Although boleite was found in many locations, the only examples of crystals of this quality were primarily from Baja California. We conclude that the Voynich Codex must be a post-Columbian manuscript written in colonial New Spain in the sixteenth century.

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  • 15 March 2019

    This book was inadvertently published without updating the following corrections and it has now been updated:

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources, Delaware State University, Dover, DE, USA

    Arthur O. Tucker

  2. Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Jules Janick

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Tucker, A.O., Janick, J. (2018). Phytomorph and Geomorph Identification. In: Unraveling the Voynich Codex. Fascinating Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77294-3_4

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