Robert Sweet (1783-1835) was an English botanist and horticulturalist. He started his working life as a gardener at aged 16 working under his half bother James. He rose to foreman and then partner in number of nurseries including in 1812 to Colvills a well known nursery in Chelsea, London. (Wikipedia)
Robert Sweet published a number of books about plants and gardens including the The British Flower Garden (1823-1829). He was responsible for naming a number of Australian plants including Banksia dryandroides the Dryandra-leaved Banksia and Hakea ferruginea. Flora Australasica has no Introduction but starts with an 'Alphabetical Index' of plants followed by a 'List of Books Quoted'. Each plant has a detailed description or letterpress starting with Linnean Class and then the Natural Order and a detailed botanical description - many are also described as "pretty" or "handsome". Most, if not all, of the plants included were supplied by nurseries and would have been propagated from samples brought back to England by the early explorers.
This important early book has 56 hand coloured plates - illustrations by Edwin Dalton Smith. The lithographic impression can be seen on each plate.
