The Bioversity Herbarium project13/01/2014

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Middle Ages: “Herbaria” are painted codes of medicinal plants

Today:Digital herbaria with scanned samples and relational databases

XVI century: “Horti vivi” and “Horti sicci”. Luca Ghini (1490-1556): herbarium as a scientific instrument

XIX century: the herbarium becomes a fad

Herbarium is a collection of dried and classified plant specimens

Current value:

Taxonomy

Biodiversity

Aim of the Bioversity Herbarium project

Case study to investigate on thebiodiversity in the agriculturallandscapes.

Initial focus on: CWR, “wildflowers” and local cultivated varieties for the territory of Fiumicino

Scientific value Educational value

Popular science

Collaboration with otherorganizations andinstitutions

First 10 monthsVolunteers involvedStartup

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Contacts

Helmut Knupffer-Leibniz Instituteof Plant Genetics and Crop PlantResearch (IPK)

Herbarium of “La Sapienza” University - Rome

Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry- Saint Petersburg

i) Computerized data

Steps for the herbarium implementation

a) Collecting missionsb) Drying processc) Mounting process

d) Identification of the samplese) Labeling

f) Refrigeration processg) Storageh) Preservation

Collecting missions/sites – collecting form

Bioversity surrounding areas

Vasche di Maccarese (WWF)

Oasi Macchiagrande (WWF)

Castel di Guido

Maccarese – Fregene coast

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Collecting missions/equipment

Canister (vascolo)Notebook for drawings

The calculation of the points on the maps

Plastic bagsCamera

GPS

Drying process

Mounting process/materials

A3 sheets (29,7 x 42,1 cm)Strips of paperPins (nickel-plated), sewing thread or glue ?

representative samples were plasticized for educational purposes

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Mounting process/ specimens composition

Fold the samples withacute angles

Cut the samples

Small bags for seeds oraccidentally detachedparts of the sample

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Identification of the samples

mic

rosc

opic

char

acte

rs

macroscopic characters

Identification of the samples/scientific discussion

IPFI(Index Plantarum Florae Italicae)

Labeling

• low temperatures to eliminate:spores, eggs and larvae

• plastic cover for the samples to prevent condensation

Refrigeration process

Storage

taxonomic criterion (IPFI)

Preservation1. Low humidity2. Away from excessive heat3. Away from the dust

THREATS: mushrooms and insects (gen. Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Dermaptera)

High risk groups

ASTERACEAEAPIACEAEBRASSICACEAECAMPANULACEAELILIACEAERANUNCULACEAEROSACEAE

Low risk groups

ARECACEAECONIFERAECRYPTOGAMAECYPERACEAEPTERIDOPHYTA

PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL treatments

Computerized data

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Bioversity International

Display results and statistics

Bioversity sorrounding areas: 8 CWR25 “wild flowers”29 edibles10 toxic7 exotic (6 invasive)

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Display results

Brassica napus

Opportunities and future challenges

Expand our RANGE

GIS

Create a collaboration with the LEONARDO DA VINCI INSTITUTE to collect the cultivated varieties and with the PROGRAMMA NATURA’s visitors for the wild species

belong to European and national NETWORKS (BIOCASE, AnArchive, Index Herbariorum)

WEB APPLICATION

Maintain a special section of the BIOVERSITY LIBRARY CATALOGUE

Bioversity herbarium project in figures

15 missions

156 samples

103 different species

39 families

5 presses

1 freezer

1685,14 € budget

A great experience....Brassica incana

A great experience....Brassica incana

Thank you!