The composition shows clear similarities to some early works in the collection of Merian drawings in Saint-Petersburg. One of these is a watercolor with a red currant plant. Some of these drawings are of similar size. The border lines are also similar, though they might have been added later. The drawing can be dated to circa 1670, when Merian was influenced by Nicolas Robert and before she travelled to Surinam with her daughter in 1699.
We are indebted to Dr. Sam Segal for his help in cataloguing this drawing.