Central Idea

Researchers have found a 500-year-old herbarium from Italy, particularly Bologna in the north.
This collection, meticulously crafted by Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi between 1551 and 1586, offered a window into the past.

Aldrovandi’s Herbarium

Floristic Changes: The herbarium, containing 5,000 specimens, unveiled a tapestry of historical changes in Italy’s flora over five centuries.
Human Impact: Clues of human disturbance, habitat loss, transformation, and the invasion of alien species emerged from the pressed and preserved plant specimens.
Climate Change: The collection allowed insights into the impact of climate change on Italy’s botanical landscape.
Demographic Trends: European demographic shifts, excluding the European part of the former USSR, were reflected in the herbarium.
Extinct and Unknown Species: The herbarium hinted at species, both native and alien, that have vanished or remain undiscovered in contemporary times.

New World Influence: Aldrovandi’s herbarium holds the memory of Europe’s first encounters with species from the Americas, which later invaded the continent.
Transforming Flora: It documents the initial signs of a profound transformation in European flora and habitats, paving the way for the introduction of new species and ecological shifts.