The Botanical Garden of Naples has a collection of papier-mâché models that reproduce plant structures, whole plants, or fungi. They are known as Brendel Models, named after the German Company that built and supplied them to the Botanical Garden in the early nineteenth century. For their state of decay, due to time and continuous use for educational purposes, the models have undergone recovery interventions. Given their historical and artistic interest, and in order to preserve them, the models are no longer used today. In order not to completely lose such a cultural heritage for didactics, a CD-ROM has been created which includes, for each species reproduced by the models, photos in nature of the plants represented and didactic cards re-porting all the useful information for the use of models in computer mode

Barone Lumaga Maria Rosaria

Menale Bruno

Muoio Rosa

Sibilio Giancarlo

English

Archivio della ricerca - Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II

Delpinoa 58-59: 5-18. 2016-2017  The collection of Brendel Botanical Models at the Botanical  Garden of Naples, Italy   G. SIBILIO1, R. MUOIO1, B. MENALE2, M. R. BARONE LUMAGA2  1Botanical Garden of Naples, 2Department of Biology; University of Naples Federico II, Via Foria 223, 80139 Naples, Italy. gsibilio@unina.it, muoio@unina.it, menale@unina.it, mrbarone@unina.it     Abstract. The Botanical Garden of Naples has a collection of papier-mâché models that reproduce plant structures, whole plants or fungi. They are known as Brendel Models, named after the German Company that built and supplied them to the Botanical Garden in the early nineteenth century. For their state of decay, due to time and continuous use for ed-ucational purposes, the models have under-gone recovery interventions. Given their his-torical and artistic interest, and in order to preserve them, the models are no longer used today. In order not to completely lose such a cultural heritage for didactics, a CD-ROM has been created which includes, for each species reproduced by the models, photos in nature of the plants represented and didactic cards re-porting all the useful information for the use of models in computer mode. Riassunto. L’Orto Botanico di Napoli dispo-ne di una collezione di modelli in cartapesta che riproducono strutture vegetali, intere pian-te o funghi. Essi sono noti come Modelli Brendel, dal nome della ditta tedesca che li costruì e li fornì all’Orto Botanico agli inizi dell’Ottocento. Per il loro stato di degrado, dovuto al tempo e al continuo uso a scopo di-dattico, i modelli sono stati sottoposti a inter-venti di recupero. Considerato il loro interesse storico e artistico, e al fine di una loro preser-vazione, i modelli non vengono attualmente più utilizzati. Per non perdere del tutto un tale patrimonio culturale per la didattica, è stato realizzato un CD-ROM che include, per cia-scuna specie riprodotta dai modelli, foto in na-tura delle piante rappresentate e schede didat-tiche comprensive di tutte le informazioni utili per un loro utilizzo in modalità informatica.  Key words: Botanical anatomical models, Botanical Garden of Naples, Brendel     Three-dimensional models are very im-portant tools in the studies of histology and anatomy of plants as they reproduce enlarged anatomical structures easy to an-alyze.  In the second half of eighteenth century and at the beginning of nineteenth centu-ry, there was a great demand for these di-dactical models in schools and universities worldwide. As a result, in Europe, many specialized factories manufactured models for these scientific institutions. For the construction of the models, materials such as papier-mâché, wax, gypsum, glass and pottery were mostly used (FIORINI et al. 2007). In particular, the Brendel Company, a German firm, first active in Breslau and later in Berlin, was specialized in repro-ducing plants, flowers and other plant structures (BRENDEL 1893, 1894, 1914). The Brendel Company was also renowned     6  for masterfully represent the main types of inflorescences, phyllotaxis, fungi and life cycles of ferns (FIORINI et al. 2007).  THE BRENDEL BOTANICAL MODELS AT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN OF NAPLES  A very important collection of Brendel models reproducing flowers and other plant organs made of papier-mâché is conserved in the Botanical Garden of Na-ples. The collection currently consists of 109 elements with all of the most im-portant models included in Brendel’s pro-duction. The majority of the models repre-sent floral structures, but there are also models representing fungi, mosses, vascu-lar cryptograms, inflorescences and three-dimensional dispositions of leaves on trunks. Some of the models in the collec-tion are illustrated in Figs. 1-11. The models conserved in the Botanical Garden should belong to the oldest series of the Brendel’s production; in fact, they have black painted bases (Fig. 4) while the models produced at the beginning of the nineteenth century were mounted on light wooden bases and finished with transpar-ent varnishes (FIORINI et al. 2007). The models are well made, with a special con-sideration for structural details and for the colors of natural elements’ structures. Un-fortunately, there are no documents, pur-chase notes or inventory notes that could be used as a path for recreating the phases of purchasing the models by the Botanical Garden.  Many models are well preserved but some of them were damaged due to time and their repeated use for didactic purpos-es. To make Brendel’s collection still usa-ble, the models were retrieved, reor-ganized, and put in order according to sys-tematic and anatomical criteria. The first step of the process of control and mainte-nance of the collection was devoted to the reorganization of materials and to the classification of the models. Database containing pictures of all the samples in the collection were also created. The metadata necessary for rapidly monitoring the collection’s size, the type of structures reproduced, the samples’ conservation state and the damages were reported for each model. The basic screen of the data-base’s mask includes the main data related to individual models and the link to a high-resolution photo. The arrangement of the flowers’ mod-els was referred to the classification sys-tem proposed by Arthur Cronquist (CRONQUIST 1981, 1988). The models were divided into groups that reflect the different themes to which they refer. Thus, therefore, they are now divided into groupings dedicated to metamorphosed leaves, ovaries and ovules, stems, inflo-rescences, etc.  With the aid of some didactic panels, the models were assembled and are now exposed in historical display cabinets lo-cated in the main teaching room of the Botanical Garden of Naples (Fig. 12). The models with reproductions of metamor-phosed leaves and the ones with phyllo-taxis’ diagrams put in the display win-dows were placed side by side with de-scriptive panels with photos (obtained from plants grown in the Botanical Gar-den of Naples) that highlight the structures reproduced in the models. The panels were made referring to texts of general and systematic botany (CRONQUIST 1981, 1988; JUDD et al. 2005; TONZIG & MARRÈ 1983; PIGNATTI 1982; RAVEN et al. 2005; STRASBURGER et al. 2006).  THE PRODUCTION OF CD-ROM  Given the historical interest and the ar-tistic value of the models and to preserve them, the models are no longer used dur-ing university lessons. For these reasons, it was decided to organize a CD-ROM re-    7  porting all data referred to the models. The CD-ROM pursuits the idea of creat-ing a product suitable for all types of us-ers, separating the educational material from the technological support and con-sidering that scientific disclosure must take into account the differences existing in the cultural background of users, com-bining the needs of researchers with those of simple enthusiasts. In the designing of the CD-ROM, a programming language compatible with the WEB was used. In particular, the html language was chosen; this is easy to man-age and to use and does not require com-plicated installation phases. In fact, a software application that requires the use of powerful computers or installation of accessory plugins may discourage users with less experience in its knowledge. In particular, the plugins always need inter-net access to be loaded and they are often unwanted by the user, that is forced to in-stall additional software without having the opportunity to evaluate the quality of the offered content. The layout of the pag-es follows linear patterns and the number of hyperlinks is reduced to the bare mini-mum. Animation effects such as roll-over are not used in order not to confuse the users with less experience (SIBILIO & MENALE 2005; SIBILIO et al. 2011). Use of the html language also predisposes the multimedia contents of the CD-ROM to a simple and rapid publication on the net. This publication is expected after the dis-tribution of the CD-ROM. The photos of the models are integrated with botanical documents, with photos of the entities represented in their natural en-vironment and, in some cases, with images of scanning electron microscopy of pollen grains. The intent was to highlight the high educational value of the models and to add to the macromorphological characters, classically at the base of the systematics, micromorphological characters that togeth-er with the data obtained from molecular studies can be used for phylogenetic ana-lyzes. The photos of models are accompanied by illustrative texts containing summary information that has the aim to provide useful elements for the understanding of each model. The texts were compiled by referring to general and systematic botani-cal literature (CRONQUIST 1981, 1988; JUDD et al. 2005; TONZIG & MARRÈ 1983; PIGNATTI 1982; RAVEN et al. 2005; STRASBURGER et al. 2006). The consultation of the CD ROM has a simple interface. The user can choose whether to browse the patterns structured in alphabetical order or to use instead thematic one that implies higher levels of interactivity and background. For exam-ple, the user can choose to consult the models related to metamorphosed organs, those dedicated to reproductive structures, to flower symmetries or to organization of the inflorescences. The CD-ROM is divided into two sec-tions. The first one is dedicated to the his-tory of the Brendel models and in particu-lar to those in the Neapolitan collection and the second one includes systematic botany hints and a glossary. For each model, a descriptive card shows the scientific name of the species reproduced and the systematic classifica-tion according to the classification system of CRONQUIST (1981, 1988). The descrip-tion of the species is followed by refer-ences to phenology and distribution. All cards are completed by bibliographic ref-erences. Each card is matched with a pho-to and a description that highlight the characterizing elements of the reproduced structure (Fig. 13). The possibility to ac-cess to the flower’s picture or to the pollen grains’ image (Fig. 14) is indicated by two buttons positioned on the right side of the page. The glossary reports definitions of botanical terms. The different color in     8  which these terms are shown in the sheet implies the hypertext character and the possibility to access the explanation.  The use of a multimedia CD-ROM is the most suitable way for the enhancement of the Brendel models. Thanks to multi-media, these models can still play an edu-cational role, even at a distance, entering in virtual form in an almost unlimited number of schools and academic courses. This kind of product can become a valua-ble tool even in classrooms without inter-net access.       9   Fig. 1 - Nymphaea alba L.     Fig. 2 - Lilium martagon L.       10   Fig. 3 - Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase.     Fig. 4 - Avena sativa L. Model with black painted wood base.      11   Fig. 5 - Aconitum napellus L.     12   Fig. 6 - Viola tricolor L.      Fig. 7 - Phaseolus vulgaris L.     13   Fig. 8 - Prunus cerasus L.       Fig. 9 - Humulus lupulus L. Male flower.     14       Fig. 10 - Theobroma cacao L.      15   Fig. 11 - Primula veris L.      16               Fig. 12 - The botanical anatomical models arranged in a historical display cabinet in a teaching room of                  the Botanical Garden of Naples.           17           Fig. 13 - Example of a descriptive card.                        Fig. 14 - Example of the descriptive card of Viola tricolor L. with photos of the                                    plant and scanning electron microscopy images of pollen grains.      18  LITERATURE CITED  BRENDEL R. 1893. List of Model concern-ing vegetable morphology. Unger Brothers, Berlin. BRENDEL R. 1894. Neue Botanische Mod-elle der Verlags-Anstalt fur Lehrmittel. N° 8. Recently Issued Model for Bota-nical Instruction. N° 9. Unger Brothers, Berlin. BRENDEL R. 1914. Preisliste der Botanis-chen Modelle von R. Brendel. Druck von Hermann Klokow Berlin. CRONQUIST A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowerings plants. With a new forward by Armen Takhta-jan, Columbia University Press, New York. CRONQUIST A. 1988. The Evolution and classification of flowering plants. The New York Botanical Garden, New York. FIORINI G., MAEKAWA L., STIBERC P. 2007.  La “Collezione Brendel” di mo-delli di fiori ed altri organi vegetali del Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale del-l’Università degli Studi di Firenze. Mu-seologia scientifica 22 (2): 249-273.  JUDD W.S., CAMPBELL C.S., KELLOGG E.A., STEVENS P.F. 2005. Botanica Si-stematica. Un approccio filogenetico. Piccin, Padova. PIGNATTI S. 1982. Flora d'Italia. Edagrico-le, Bologna. RAVEN P.H., EVERT R.F., EICHHORN S.E. 2005. Biologia delle piante. Zanichelli, Bologna. SIBILIO G., MENALE B. 2005. Gli strumen-ti informatici dell’Orto Botanico di Napoli. Delpinoa 47: 123-130. SIBILIO G., BARONE LUMAGA M.R., ME-NALE B. 2011. Gli strumenti informati-ci per la comunicazione dell’Orto Bo-tanico di Napoli, Facoltà di Scienze, Università degli Studi di Napoli Fede-rico II, Italia. Museologia Scientifica, Memorie N. 8/2011: 189-193. STRASBURGER E., NOLL F., SCHENCK H., SCHIMPER A.F.W. 2006. Trattato di Bo-tanica per le università. Antonio Del-fino, Roma. THE PLANT LIST (2020). Version 1. Pub-lished on the Internet; http://www.the-plantlist.org/ (accessed 1st May 2020). TONZIG E., MARRÈ E. 1983. Botanica Ge-nerale. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Mi-lano.         Pubblicato nel mese di Dicembre 2020   

The collection of Brendel Botanical Models at the Botanical Garden of Naples, Italy

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The collection of Brendel Botanical Models at the Botanical Garden of Naples, Italy

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Archivio della ricerca - Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II