Georg Dionysius Ehret (German, 1708-1770)
(Blackberry Jam Fruit, Randia formosa) RANDIA frutescens Spinis bijugis, folus Subrotundis,/florivus albis. Houst.
[Shruby Randia. With two-jointed spines, sub-rounded leaves, white flowers. As described by William Houstoun]
Pencil and watercolor, heightened with bodycolor and with touches of gum arabic, on laid paper, watermark fleur-de-lis within a coat-of-arms
Signed ‘G.D. Ehret. p.’ (lower right) and inscribed ‘RANDIA frutescens Spinis bijugis, folus Subrotundis, / florivus albis. Houst’ (lower center) and with inscription ‘Bo’t at sale of Bale Colln. June ‘81 / Lot 2291.’ (verso)
Paper size: 19 5/8 x 13 ¼ in.
Provenance: Charles Sackville Bale (1791-1880), London (†); Christie’s, London, 9 June 1881, part of lot 2291 (2 ¾ gns to Oliver).
possibly Professor Daniel Oliver, F.R.S. (1830-1916), London.
#AP02986

Randia Formosa/Rosenbergiodendron formosum, commonly called the Blackberry Jam Fruit, is native to Central and South America. It is a small evergreen bushy shrub with white flowers, closely related to the gardenia and coffee plants. The flowers are star-shaped, tubular, and very fragrant.

The olive-shaped yellow fruits are wood-shelled but easily crushed when chewed. The fruit contains two cells, each with small, flat seeds, surrounded by soft, sweet, black pulp that tastes like blackberry jam.