PRESENTATION



INTRODUCTION, PROTOCOL

INTRODUCTION

For some years now our Institute has been collecting a Herbarium of phanerogamous plants found in the surrounding area.
In strict terms a herbarium is a collection of a certain number of dried plants. It springs from a noble purpose: the desire to catalogue whatever exists.
Ever since man has been capable of reasoning two things have always intrigued him: the origins of the universe and the incredible variety to be found in it.
In cities like Paris, Kiev, London, Florence there are herbaria including millions of plant species from all over the world. Ours is a small herbarium, which highlights an aesthetic particularity with no claims to scientific completeness.

Naturally we have imposed geographic limitations upon our work.
Strictly speaking the territory would coincide with that stretch of the Arno Valley between Montelupo (confluence with the Pesa River) and Ponte a Elsa (confluence with the Elsa River).
However, with a less rigorous definition, it would roughly coincide with the still wider area from which our students come; so that the surrounding hills (Montalbano) and other interesting ecosystems (the Marshes of Fucecchio) would be included. In this way the students, with the help of precise guidelines, can be more personally involved in the collection of the species and their geographical pin-pointing.
We have also imposed taxonomical limitations on our work; our intent is to collect only Phanerogamae plants (those that reproduce by means of flowers) together with Pteridophytae (those that reproduce by means of spores, along with ferns) listed in Sandro Pignatti, Flora d'Italia, by Edagricole, in Bologna, 1982, vv I-III, which is our country's main reference work.

Our project is composed of:

1. The actual Herbarium, which can be examined at our institute, containing approximately 1000 items to date, which will become over 2000 by the time the project is complete.

2. A Database of 1223 records (787 local), which collects all the Italian species our group comes across.

3. A Collection of images (named PIANTE), presently containing 2981 images of species "in vivo".

4. A Collection of images (named FOGLI), presently containing 1155 images of species "in herbario".

5. A Collection of images (named FRESCO), presently containing 278 images of scannered fresh anatomical details.

6. This Web page, Erbarea, where you can find a few features of our project.

7. A CD, which is an attempt at setting in order and communicating our knowledge thus far.


PROTOCOL

Warning!
Many species are becoming rare and a few families like the Orchidaceous, are now risking extinction.
Do not gather samples in natural parks.
Do not gather samples of rare or protected species even if the rarity only regards the area where it has been observed.
Do not compile destructive collections.


1.At times it is possible to make a diagnosis based on the characteristics of a few organs (the flower and leaves), but in general the species must be gathered in its entirety including its roots and if possible, fruits and seeds.

2.If the species is a parasite (which can be determined by the lack of chlorophyll) it is necessary to collect the host species as well, or at least to note which species grow nearby.

3.The collection is to be made when the species is in flower. Medium sized individuals should be collected, or else a few individuals of varying sizes.

4.Some plants, like ferns, although they are not phanerogamous (therefore lacking flowers and reproducing by means of spores), have been historically considered together with these. The best period for their collection is at the maturation of the spores, which are usually found in brownish organs on the underside of the leaf.

5.The specimens collected are to be conserved in plastic bags that are closed and kept moist (some grass collected at the same time may be included for the purpose), and examined within a few hours (they may be kept in a refrigerator in the meantime). However, it is advisable to make an initial diagnosis in the field with the help of a pocket manual. For this purpose an excellent guide is Guida Botanica d'Italia, Eugenio Baroni, Cappelli, Bologna.

6.If the specimen is to be included in a herbarium, it must be pressed as soon as possible between sheets of absorbent paper and newspaper. The pressure must be limited during the first hours, to increase gradually; the sheets of paper must be changed daily; the drying time ranges generally from one to two weeks. When the drying is complete the specimens are recomposed on common 24 x 33 drawing paper using strips of paper for the positioning, then protected with a transparent sheet of paper and inserted into a folder. It may be necessary to disinfest them from parasites with a camphor spray.

7.The specimens to be inserted in our Herbarium must be prepared as specified in point 6 and must be completed by a file card with the following information: date, township, place, preliminary diagnosis, environment (sown field, vineyard, olive grove, ditch, swamp, ...woods, hedge, meadow, etc.). It is a good idea to include one or two color slides, a close-up if necessary, taken in the field. We will concern ourselves with compiling the legend on the herbarium page.

Herbarium . Database . Map . Itineraries . News . Authors