This plate was a copy of one published by Curtis earlier in 1851. At the time, competition for images of the latest botanical wonders was fierce, and copyright non-existent. Artists would copy an image by engraving it onto a copper plate or preparing a lithograph stone. When printed the image would usually mirror the original.
In this case, orientation is the same as in the Curtis print. There were two editions of Van Houtte in 1851 with the same image; in one it mirrored the Curtis, and in this one it did not. It may be that the second edition required a new engraving and the copy was made from the first edition.