The non-medicinal plants of a historical tuscan herbarium: the “Erbario dei Cappuccini di San Quirico d’Orcia

The non-medicinal plants of a historical tuscan herbarium: the "Erbario dei Cappuccini di San Quirico d 'Orcia". A historical herbarium compiled by the Capuchin friars of San Quirico d'Orcia (Siena), dating to the second half of the 18th century, was accurately investigated for the first time. The whole collection is composed of 579 sheets with 348 plants enclosed in 5 boxes. The collection is divided into two main sections: "medicinal plants" and "non-medicinal plants". In this study, we focused on the latter section. The goals were to evaluate the conservation status of each specimen, analyse them as historical-documental source, get information on past investigative methods and compile a list of the specimens. In total, 168 specimens belonging to 44 families, 134 genera and 157 species were revised. The richest families in terms of species were Fabaceae (14.4%), Lamiaceae (13.1%) and Asteraceae (9.0%). About 50% of the specimens are in good conservation status. Since the results of this study show species from various areas, the purpose of this herbarium was probably not solely for the study of the local flora, but also for other purposes (e.g. economic, alimentary and documentary). Moreover, given the variety of the collection it can be assumed that plants were not only collected but that exchanges also occurred with other people from other localities, also abroad. The study of the specimens increases the collection life span, by anticipating the period of the supposed establishment of the collection to 1569, due to a date reported in a label, and extending its conclusion to at least until 1772. This study highlights that much information can be obtained from historical herbaria and it confirms the crucial role of botany in Tuscany in the past. Furthermore, it shows that botany extended beyond Universities, as it does today.