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

2. 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)

3. The Flora brasiliensis
Produced in Germany –
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

6. 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

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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Outdated nomenclature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

12. 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

13. 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