DATABASE



RESEARCH, GENERAL INFORMATION, PRECAUTIONS, VERSIONS



RESEARCH

To recognise and name a species following an analytical key is a problem with metaphysical aspects.
With the exception of rare cases in which the differences are really imperceptible, anyone with any aptitude for collecting with a capacity for observation is able to affirm that species A is different from species B. But if it is a question of recognising a species one must interpret the words of the person who first described it or whoever has proposed a diagnostic key. It becomes a problem of communication. The solution can be found in a knowledge of plant anatomy and also of the specialised botanical glossary.
Unfortunately, however, nature rebels against our human attempts at categorising, and we may happen, plant in hand, to read with dismay that "Euphorbia terracina L. has sessile leaves, which may be linear-lanceolate (4-7 x 15-40 mm), generally obtuse and more or less aristated at the apex, with serrated edges". However, on a more serious note, the use of a scientific analytic key is the only way to arrive at any certainty. Nowadays the reference work most used in our country is Sandro Pignatti, op.cit. And if someone doesn't feel like setting off on an exciting journey with a risk of no return, he can thumb through the brief Guida botanica d’Italia by Eugenio Baroni, op. cit., regularly reprinted. And finally whoever is lazy and sedentary, but would like to know the name of a flower found in his own garden while pulling weeds or discovered in the woods while picking mushrooms and is not too worried about the accuracy of the results can try to use the information in our Database after reading the instructions carefully.
Unfortunately, no one can protect you from the two most common frustrations of the amateur botanist: finding the wrong denomination, or not finding any.
Do not become discouraged: this democratic lack of guarantees is operative even when the most accurate manuals are being used; all existing literature on flora is constantly being revised and corrected.
Only one thing is sure: if you take the scientific names of the species as your guide, you will be wrong. Lunaria annua L. is perennial, at times biennial, but never annual.
We suggest that you use our Database as an initial approach; only by comparing that to herbaria, collections of images and more or less specialised texts will you bring some clarity to the generalised uncertainty.


GENERAL INFORMATION

We have prepared many formats for the Database regarding the plants in our territory classified thus far.
Whoever wishes may open the various versions at present available.

The fields that appear in the Database are:

1. Common names; common names most often used
2. Family; family to which the species belongs
3. Genus; genus to which the species belongs
4. Species; the species to which the plant belongs
5. Author s; author of the species
6. Subspecies; the subspecies, if any
7. Author ss; author of the subspecies
8. Flora Europaea; denomination according to Flora Europaea, Cambridge University Press, 1964-93, vv I-V
9. Place; locality in which the species was observed or collected
10. Local; it contains "yes" if the species grows in our territory
11. Number; according to Sandro Pignatti, Flora d'Italia, by Edagricole, in Bologna, 1982, vv I-III
12. Other; typographical marks of various significance used in the above quoted work
13. Notes; various kind of notes
14. Flowering; the months in which the species flowers (at times our samples show an early blossoming) expressed in Roman numerals
15. Biological form; brief indication regarding the biological form
16. Inflorescence; brief indication regarding the type of inflorescence
17. Form of corolla; brief indication regarding the form of corolla
18. Petals; the number of petals
19. Colour of corolla; brief indication regarding the colour of the corolla
20. Leaves; brief indication regarding the form of the leaves

In the CD version of our work for a direct access to the images we have inserted nine fields indicated as "In vivo (1-9)", four fields indicated as "In herbario (1-4)" and three fields indicated as "In integro (1-3)".

Naturally, it is possible to create research filters for use in trying to identify the specimens collected. For more detailed instructions on the building up of these filters, we suggest you read the following Precautions.


PRECAUTIONS

The most useful Database fields in attempting a diagnosis of the species are:

14. Biological form; to be used only in clear-cut cases
15. Inflorescence; if possible in all cases
16. Form of corolla; indicate at least if it is center-symmetrical or irregular
17. Petals; if possible they should always be used
18. Colour of corolla; despite the apparent imprecision it is always useful
19. Leaves; to be used in all cases
20. Notes; to be read in making the final distinctions and also when trying to differentiate species belonging to important groups, such as the Composites and Graminaceous plants

One can choose a few features of the species collected, select the records that display them and continue until their number is reduced to a reasonable level. The information contained in other fields can also be utilised, along with the images.
In the field Notes reference is often made to Sandro Pignatti, op. cit. descriptions in his above mentioned work, which can be useful for comparisons; at times specialised terms may be used, the definition of which may be found in any good dictionary.
Don't worry if the indications that appear in the Database fields seem contradictory or redundant; we have tried to correct the most common errors of interpretation and, as far as possible, we have attempted to cover the various points of view of an unskilled but interested observer.
Using the Database doesn't require any high level botanical knowledge, nor familiarity with specialised vocabulary. However one must be able to recognise a flower-head, or a pennate leaf.

The lists of key words we have given suffer from the same heterogeneity as the animal catalogue referred to by J. L. Borges: (a) belonging to the imperor, (b) stuffed, (c) trained, (d) suckling, (e) sirens, (f) fabulous, (g) stray dogs, (h) included in this classification, (i) that trash about like madmen, (j) miriad, (k) drawn with a very fine camel's hair brush, (l) etc., (m) that have broken the vase, (n) that look like flies from a distance.
Not only; what are we to do when a flower is somewhat white and somewhat green? When the spokes of an umbrella are so short that it might be a head? What exactly is the difference between a shrub and a bush? And between a shrub and a tree? There is no clear answer to all these questions; one must pursue the various alternatives.
One last thing. The entire edifice of our keys for recognition is based on an illusory presumption: that of having catalogued all the plants growing in our territory. But you can help us in this task by notifying us about new species, gathering samples, etc.
Another way you can help us is by pointing out mistakes, imprecision or something missed.
Thanks and good work!



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