Litmus Collection

Dyer's lichen or crab's eye lichen, Lichen perellus. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by
FLO4698716 Dyer's lichen or crab's eye lichen, Lichen perellus. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for James Smith's English Botany

Symbolic image of the sun and sunflowers - Cigar box label, chromolithography, 19th century
LSE4081621 Symbolic image of the sun and sunflowers - Cigar box label, chromolithography, 19th century.; Private Collection; (add.info.: Symbolic image of the sun and sunflowers - Cigar box label)

Bouquets of pink and red dahlias, yellow marigold, red tremiere rose, sunflower and pink
FLO4721354 Bouquets of pink and red dahlias, yellow marigold, red tremiere rose, sunflower and pink and lemon yellow marigold variety

The fee sunflower, with its face framed with petals and a cape of leaves, stands kneeling in prayer towards the Sun
FLO4637528 The fee sunflower, with its face framed with petals and a cape of leaves, stands kneeling in prayer towards the Sun - Eau forte by Charles Geoffroy (1819-1882)

Variety of sunflower, with bright yellow flower. Plant native to the southern United States (Amerisue)
FLO4581691 Variety of sunflower, with bright yellow flower. Plant native to the southern United States (Amerisue). Illustration by Wiliam Jackson Hooker (1785-1865), British botanist and writer

Therese, Tendresse, Trenfle, Tulip, Taupe, Sunflower, Hole, Earth, page 33 - Alphabet by Mademoiselle Lili, by L
DUV4224193 Therese, Tendresse, Trenfle, Tulip, Taupe, Sunflower, Hole, Earth, page 33 - Alphabet by Mademoiselle Lili, by L. Froelich and by a dad (Hetzel himself)

Sunflowers in an armchair Painting by Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) 1901 Saint Petersburg
JLJ4591324 Sunflowers in an armchair Painting by Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) 1901 Saint Petersburg. Hermitage Museum by Gauguin, Paul (1848-1903); State Hermitage Museum, St

Advertising poster for Louis Royer champagne, late 19th century
XEE4106767 Advertising poster for Louis Royer champagne, late 19th century by Unknown Artist, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertising poster for Louis Royer champagne)

Portrait of Children Hulsenbeck Painting by Philipp Otto Runge (1777-1810) 1805 Sun
LRI4637783 Portrait of Children Hulsenbeck Painting by Philipp Otto Runge (1777-1810) 1805 Sun. 130, 5x140, 5 cm Hamburg, Kunsthalle by Runge, Philipp Otto (1777-1810); Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg

Sunflowers, 1888 (oil on canvas)
LSE4315533 Sunflowers, 1888 (oil on canvas) by Gogh, Vincent van (1853-90); Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Germany; Photo eLeonard de Selva; Dutch, out of copyright

Dyers lichen or crabs eye lichen, Lichen perellus. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a drawing by James Sowerby for James Smiths English Botany, 1800

Light energy: sunflower is influenced by sunlight. Anonymous illustration from 1925
XEE4141052 Light energy: sunflower is influenced by sunlight. Anonymous illustration from 1925. Private collection. by Anonymous; Private Collection; (add.info.: Light energy)

Sodium metal in glass bowl of red Litmus water producing sodium hydroxide and hydrogen, close-up

Litmus solution added to alkali
Litmus solution being added to an alkali. Litmus is an indicator, a chemical that has a different colour depending on whether it is in an acidic or alkaline environment. In alkalis it is purple/blue

Litmus solution added to acid
Litmus solution being added to an acid. Litmus is an indicator, a chemical that has a different colour depending on whether it is in an acidic or alkaline environment. In acids it is red

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Discover the captivating world of litmus, a natural dye derived from the Trenfle lichen (Lichen perellus). In "Alphabet by Mademoiselle Lili," Therese and Tendresse learn about this magical substance on page 33. Sunflowers, with their radiant Taupe hues, serve as a perfect metaphor for litmus' ability to change color based on its environment. From Paul Gauguin's Sunflowers in an Armchair painting to the advertising poster for Louis Royer champagne, sunflowers have long been associated with light and energy. This connection is not lost on litmus, which thrives under sunlight. The sunflower's transformation mirrors that in a solution. When exposed to an acid, litmus turns red, while an alkali causes it to turn blue. This simple yet profound reaction has been documented since the late 19th century, as seen in an anonymous illustration from 1925. In the lab, sodium metal reacts with red litmus water, producing sodium hydroxide and hydrogen. The litmus solution then turns blue, signaling the completion of the reaction. This process, much like the sunflower's transformation, is a testament to the power of nature and science intertwined. From the pages of children's books to the canvas of famous painters, the sunflower's symbolism and litmus' chemical reaction continue to inspire and captivate us. Embrace the beauty of these natural wonders and the knowledge they impart.