The Flora brasiliensis Digital Library Initiative Briefly introduce the FBDLI George J. Shepherd (UNICAMP) Dora A. Lange Canhos (CRIA)

Brazil and its flora Brazil has the single largest Angiosperm flora in the world 35-70,000 species The only complete Flora is the “Flora brasiliensis” probably anything from 9 to 30% of all Angiosperms, depending on the numbers used estimates from Govaerts (2001) and Bramwell (2002)

The Flora brasiliensis Produced in Germany – 1840-1906 Editors: C.F.P. von Martius, A.W. Eichler & I. Urban 65 specialists 15 Volumes in 40 parts (Folio) describes 22,767 Brazilian species (in Latin) – about 5,000 new to science ~3800 lithographs Still actively used for plant identification Useful outside Brazil One of the most magnificent floras of all time

The quality of the illustrations (3800) is unsurpassed and they show numerous analystical drawings and details besides the main habit drawings Virtually imposssible to show full quality projecting - above is only a small part of a plate

Current Floristic projects in Brazil Flora brasilica (Hoehne) The Brazilian Botanical Society initiatives State-level Floras Other Flora projects Hoehne’s attempt at a new Flora was realtively short-lived, produced relatively few volumes (some illustrated in colour) and ended with his death

The Flora brasiliensis in digital form Participants: Paul E. Berry - Univ. of Wisconsin (Madison) M.C.E. Amaral, V. Bittrich & G.J. Shepherd (UNICAMP) D.A.L. Canhos & V.Canhos (CRIA)

The role of the Flora brasiliensis today Flora brasiliensis is still a fundamental reference for floristic studies in South America It contains the protologues of a large number of species (ca. 5000) The illustrations are still immensely useful It can serve as the basis for the construction of checklists and other floristic works for Brazil and neighbouring countries

Problems in the use of the Flora brasiliensis Physical size, cost and rarity Outdated nomenclature Now very incomplete Time seems ripe for a digital version The gallica version

Main aims Develop a pilot web page to show possible formats for a digital Flora brasiliensis Evaluate costs and techniques for a full-scale version Evaluate the types of information to be included Explore the possibilities of using Flora brasiliensis as the basis for regional and national checklists and Flora projects Initially, full treatment for illustrations Serve as a resource for all those who need access to high quality illustrations of species illustrated in Fb Supply protologues and type citations for all species described as new in Fb

Overall Goal: Develop an Integrated Information System of the Knowledge Base Given the facilities now available through the Web and informatics in general, this seems an opportunity to create a new approach, adding not only updated nomenclature, but images of types, recent images and drawings and other types of information This should also allow integration with other sources such as NYBG, etc. Nucleus and test-bed for a new “Flora brasiliensis” in digital form