Santa Pulvirenti

Study of a pre-Linnaean Herbarium Attributed to Francesco Cupani (1657–1710)

Abstract Pulvirenti S., M. M. Indriolo, P. Pavone & R. M. S. Costa (2015). Study of a pre-Linnaean Herbarium attributed to Francesco Cupani (1657–1710). Candollea 70: 67–99. In English, English abstract. The aim of this work is the study of one of the two pre-Linnaean herbaria belonging to the University of Catania, attributed to Francesco Cupani, a 17th century Sicilian botanist, specifically the volume with the inventory number “VII f2 Hortus Botanicus Catinensis”. The two collections were previously unknown and found in 1992 as a result of reorganising the Herbarium of Catania University. The volume examined comprises 164 pages with 1–12 specimens on each sheet. Most likely, some samples come from the Misilmeri Garden of the Prince of Cattolica, to which Cupani dedicated great commitment in its creation, while others may have been acquired from exchanges with contemporary scientists; this is testified by the presence of non-Sicilian or extra-European species and by the extensive correspondence between the Sicilian friar and many contemporary botanists. The material in the herbarium comprises phanerogams (610 angiosperms and 5 gymnosperms), along with a small number of cryptogams (14 pteridophytes, 9 algae and 1 lichen), and 4 marine animals are also present. Unfortunately, some samples are partially or entirely damaged or even missing; nonetheless it has been possible to identify most of them. The Cupanis herbarium is compared with some pre-Linnaean herbaria in order to highlight their main similarities and differences.

Diachronic analysis of biodiversity: Study of a herbarium “reviewed” by Francesco Cupani (1657–1710) at the end of the 17th century

Abstract The subject of this paper is the study of the pre-Linnaean herbarium with the inventory number “VII F1 Hortus Botanicus Catinensis” belonging to the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (University of Catania). The volume examined comprises 186 pages (originally 190) with 1–9 specimens on each sheet. The herbarium samples mainly include angiosperms (386), but a few taxa belonging to gymnosperms (1) and pteridophytes (4) are also present. Unfortunately, some specimens are partially or entirely damaged or even missing; nonetheless, it has been possible to identify most of them. As far as the nomenclature is concerned, we find two kinds of handwriting (of which only that of Cupani can be identified), numerous corrections and/or integrations of the polylogus and different types of ink that were used. These elements allow us to state that we are speaking of a herbarium which was prepared by an unknown person and reviewed by Cupani.

Francesco Cupani: the “scientific network” of his time and the making of the Linnaean “system”

Abstract Francesco Cupani, a seventeenth century Sicilian botanist, developed a network of scientific exchanges and connections with the most important scientists of his time. Despite living in considerable isolation, he managed, above all thanks to Sherard, to correspond and exchange with Ray, Commelin, Tournefort, Triumfetti, Volkamer and Böhm. He participated in the intellectual process and debate on the method of classifying plants that he undertook following the comparison and contrast between Linnaeus and Buffon, in formulating the Linnaeus method and in creating the concepts of genera and species. Cupani and other contemporary botanists were not able to establish a system of plant classification. Each of them was so engaged in researching the distinctive characters of individual plants, in avoiding duplications and synonyms, that they could not grasp what they had in common. Linnaeus, giving them notable recognition, placed them in the category of the “Curious”. These pre-Linnaean researchers contributed to the difficult process of overcoming the rigidity of late-Aristotelian classifications, thanks also to the invention of a “scientific network” that enabled the mutual debate and exchange of botanical material (publications, iconography, seeds and exsiccata).

Taxonomic study of the plants to be found in the only herbarium of Paolo Boccone (1633–1704) at present existing in Italy

Abstract The aim of this paper is the study of the pre-Linnaean herbarium of Paolo Boccone, a 17th century Sicilian botanist. The volume of exsiccata (dated 1680) is currently kept in the Civica and A. Ursino Recupero joint Libraries of Catania (shelfmark 1.31.241). The collection was previously unknown and found by chance in 2002 as a result of reorganisation. Herbaria produced by Boccone are to be found in many European cities (Lyons, Paris, Innsbruck, Vienna, Wroclaw, Leiden, Oxford). The one that is the object of this study is, at present, the only one in Italy that exists and that can be consulted. The volume examined consists of 138 pages, with 1–5 specimens on each sheet. The material in the herbarium comprises phanerogams (366 angiosperms and 1 gymnosperm), along with a small number of cryptogams (6 pteridophytes, 1 briophyta and 2 algae). The samples are in a good state of preservation and it has been possible to identify most of them. Most of the taxa are made up of high altitude Alpine and Apennine plants; some entities have a distribution frequency on the Italian territory which goes from rare to very rare and need to be safeguarded because – some more, some less – they are seriously threatened.

Advances in chromosomal studies in Neottieae (Orchidaceae): constitutive heterochromatin, chromosomal rearrangements and speciation

Abstract — In this work, we describe a karyomorphological study on three taxa of the tribe Neottieae (Orchidaceae). Epipactis aspromontana and E. schubertiorum are characterized by a chromosome complement of 2n = 2× = 38. Significant differences in heterochromatin distribution were found between them. Similarities in the karyotype structure and C-banding of E. schubertiorum and E. helleborine group have been observed. A specimen of E. aspromontana showed a triploid chromosome number. The meiosis are characterized by univalent, bivalent and trivalent forms and in some somatic metaphase cells has been possible to observe a series of aneuploid numbers with 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53 chromosomes. The largest differences can be emphasized between the Epipactis species and Neottia nidusavis, mainly in the the karyomorphology and heterochromatin distributions. In Neottia nidusavis the evolution process seems to be determined by reversing Robertsonian mutations.

The controversial biography of Paolo Boccone (1633–1704) and his “Grand Tour” from the Mediterranean to northern Europe

Abstract Paolo Boccone (1633–1704), a Sicilian botanist of the second half of the seventeenth century, was a figure who still arouses interest in the emblematic character of his scientific experience, which is connected with a personal history that is still in many ways mysterious and unexplored. Elements which help us understand the complexity of the character and the cultural and material difficulties that he had to face are to be found in his works. They have allowed us to build up a picture of his tireless activity as a traveller and his active presence in the majority of European cultural centres of the time.

Francesco Cupani’s Panphyton Siculum. The rediscovery of a copy with handwritten corrections by his pupil Antonio Bonanno

Abstract Francesco Cupani, a pre-Linnaean Sicilian botanist, would have liked to produce a volume of “Natural History” of Sicily. Since 1692 he had been preparing the drawings and the engravings that were destined to constitute the illustrations of Panphyton Siculum. This particularly ambitious work was not completed partly because of the author’s premature death. During the eighteenth century a number of attempts were made to complete and publish this work, but none succeeded. The various exemplars of these limited trial editions were made up of collections of variously collated printed papers with differences of layout and content. At present, few exemplars of Panphyton are known to exist. The aim of this article is to indicate the presence in the Civica and A. Ursino Recupero joint Libraries of Catania of a hitherto unregistered four-volume copy, which reveals significant handwritten annotations. The comparison with the one volume edition, which is kept in the same library, with the one volume edition in the Palermo Municipal Library and with that of the Catania Regional University Library allows us to eliminate the uncertainties of the literature concerning a hypothetical Panphyton in four volumes. Moreover, it provides us with useful elements for reconstructing the history of the book after Cupani’s death. This copy is of particular importance in that it constitutes documentary proof of the re-elaboration of Cupani’s work on the part of Antonio Bonanno, his pupil, in an attempt to bring about its definitive publication.

Cytotaxonomical considerations on Epipactis robatschiana (Orchidaceae), new species from Calabria (S Italy)

Abstract Epipactis robatschiana is a new species, described from Calabria (S Italy), where it grows in underwood of acidophilous pine-forests and beech-forests. This species is diploid with chromosome number 2n=2x=38. The karyotype is asymmetrical and consists of 4 large and 15 small chromosome pairs. C-banding patterns of this new species is quite similar to those of the other species of E. muelleri group, but it differs in the distribution of some heterochromatin bands. Its ecology and relationships with allied species are discussed too.

The pre-Linnaean herbarium of Paolo Boccone (1633–1704) kept in Leiden (the Netherlands) and its connections with the imprinted one in Paris

Abstract The subject of this paper is the study of the pre-Linnaean herbarium of Paolo Boccone (1633–1704) which is kept in Leiden (the Netherlands) and its connections with two works of the same author: the imprinted herbarium kept in Paris in the Bibliothèques Interuniversitaires de Médecine and the printed volume “Icones et Descriptiones” of 1674. By means of the comparative analysis of the three works we have verified the existence of numerous similarities (even a complete overlap) between the samples of the Leiden herbarium (some with visible traces of ink), the imprints of the Paris herbarium and the figures of “Icones et Descriptiones”. The drawings to be found in this work, thanks to the realistic fidelity that distinguishes them, have been used by various authors until quite recent times for the description of new taxa. This shows the importance and the usefulness of the herbarium in question for the processes of typification. The taxonomic identification of the specimens (121 angiosperms and 1 alga) allowed us to designate the lectotype and the epitype of Daucus gingidium subsp. polygamus (Gouan) Onno and of Daucus carota subsp. commutatus (Paol.) Thell.

New cytological data in Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys Godfery and comparative karyomorphological studies in Ophrys L. (Orchidaceae)

Abstract Eight species of Ophrys sect. Pseudophrys (Orchidaceae) were cytogenetically studied. The analysed species possess the most symmetrical karyotypes of the genus (MCA ranged from 10.21 to 15.87 and CVCL from 19.61 to 23.93) with 2n = 2x = 36, being composed of mainly metacentric chromosomes. The karyotype formulae were: 36m for Ophrys archimedea, 32m + 4sm for O. flammeola, 32m + 4sm for O. funerea, 36m for O. laurensis, 36m for O. lojaconoi, 34m + 2sm for O. lucifera, 34m + 2sm for O. obaesa and 36m for O. pallida. Karyotype morphometric characters were evaluated by calculating MCA and CVCL for the assessment of karyotype asymmetry, and CVCI for the evaluation of heterogeneity in the position of the centromeres. The relationships between species were thus finally elucidated. The species characterised by wide distribution show greater karyomorphological distance than those with restricted distribution. The possible evolutionary role of chromosomal rearrangements as well as gene mutations in the speciation of Ophrys is discussed.