Motti, Riccardo

Motti Riccardo

Archivio della ricerca - Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II

93  Thaiszia - J. Bot., Košice, 28 (2): 093-102, 2018 http://www.bz.upjs.sk/thaiszia  T H A I S Z I A  JOURNAL OF  BOTANY  The Botanical Garden of Portici, Italy: a note from 1865 on its first botanical collections  RICCARDO MOTTI1  1Department of Agriculture, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, Italy; motti@unina.it  Motti R. (2018): The Botanical Garden of Portici, Italy: a note from 1865 on its first botanical collections. – Thaiszia – J. Bot. 28 (2): 093-102. – ISSN 1210-0420.   Abstract: A document held at the State Archives in Naples entitled “Notamento dei vasi e piante esistenti nei vari giardini né due boschi Superiore ed Inferiore in Portici” dated June 3, 1865, contains a census of the botanical assets of the Royal Palace of Portici gardens and park. The list includes 118 identifiable species, 59 of which are still present in the Botanical Garden of Portici. This valuable document lists the plants present in the collections at that time, allowing us to trace the origin of some species currently grown in the Botanical Garden of Portici.   Keywords: botany, botanic garden, history, Bourbon, Naples  Preface The historical reconstruction of the plant collections grown in the oldest botanical gardens often presents major difficulties due to the lack of useful archival documents. In 1865 the Royal Palace of Portici and its gardens were sold by King Victor Emmanuel II as state property and on that occasion the solidity and nature of the assets were assessed. A document entitled Notamento dei vasi e piante esistenti nei vari giardini né due boschi Superiore ed Inferiore in Portici dated June 3, 1865, was found at the State Archives of Naples, in which a census of the botanical assets at the time of the sale is reported. This valuable document lists the plants present in the collections at that time, allowing us to trace the origin of some species currently grown in the Botanical Garden of Portici. 94  Historical features  In 1738 Charles of Bourbon and his wife Maria Amalia of Saxony began work on building their residence in the grounds overlooking the bay of Granatello on the boundary between Portici and Resina, southeast of Naples. To construct the Palace and Royal Park several buildings and land parcels were purchased, some of which were covered with forest vegetation. Work on the palace was first directed by Antonio Medrano, who was replaced by Antonio Canevari in 1741. The park project was entrusted to Francesco Geri and subsequently to Francesco Vanvitelli and Ferdinando Fuga. At the beginning, the park included only the areas close to the Royal Highway to Calabria. As the park was intended for use as a hunting reserve, a large holm oak wood was planted. To create favourable conditions for plants to take root on the volcanic substrate, a topsoil layer had to be added (DEL PEZZO 1896) and, in some cases, explosives were used (MAZZOLENI 1990). Old holm oak plants from Sicily were used for the reafforestation. Since 1740, the Park has included the westernmost areas reaching down to the sea, extending from the slopes of Vesuvius to Granatello beach.  In 1871, the complex was purchased by the provincial government of Naples and housed the Royal Agricultural School, subsequently becoming the Faculty (now Department) of Agriculture of the University of Naples Federico II. In 1872 in the area of the upper gardens the Botanical Garden was founded by Nicola Antonio Pedicino, the School’s first botany professor.  Fig. 1. Historical and modern maps of the botanical garden. Materials and methods In the floristic list, drawn up on the basis of the ‘Notamento’, we attempted, where possible, to apply the current nomenclature to the names occurring in the original document. The original terms are shown in brackets and are preceded by sub when they differ from the modern nomenclature. Any misspellings are faithfully reported, and in this case the term is written in Roman capitals; vernacular names are also written in Roman capitals.  The nomenclature follows European Garden Flora (CULLEN et al., 1984-2000), MOTTI (2001) and ERHARDT et al., (2002), while for clarification of synonymy 95  problems we referred to FIORI & PAOLETTI (1896-1908), TRAVERSO (1926), FIORI (1923-29), the Index Kewensis (HOOKER & JACKSON 1997) and The Plant List (2016). Families are organised based on APG IV (CHASE et al., 2016) for angiosperms. For each species, in addition to its complete name, information concerning the native habitat is provided. Species preceded by an asterisk (*) are still present in the Botanical Garden. Results In 1865, the entire botanical heritage of ornamental species grown in the Royal Palace Complex in Portici included 118 identifiable species belonging to 77 families. Analysis of the chorological spectrum in Fig. 2 shows that there was a prevalence of exotic species from tropical and temperate-warm climates of Asia and Central and Southern America (57 %). A total of 15 % of the species came from the southern hemisphere (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia). Among the European species (18.8 %) a large number were grown for food production (Olea europaea L., Prunus domestica L, Pyrus communis L), while others grew wild in the area surrounding the royal site (Aegilops geniculata Roth, Matricaria chamomilla L., Viburnum tinus L., etc.), and were thus plants of limited ornamental or phytogeographical interest.  Fig. 2 Chorological spectrum of the species grown in the royal site of Portici in 1865. It should also be emphasised that, despite the relatively small number of plants listed, analysis of the ornamental plants grown at that time is extremely interesting due to the presence of many species which in the latter half of the nineteenth century had only recently been introduced into Europe. The list includes several species which are very rarely cultivated in Italy today, such as Plumbago zeylanica L., Porlieria hygrometra Ruiz et Pav., Callicarpa tomentosa (L.) L. and Pyrolirion arvense (F. Dietr.) Erhardt, Goetz et Seybold.  Of considerable interest is the presence of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. This species is uncommonly cultivated outside India and Pakistan, and in Italy is known only from the Botanical Garden of Rome and the English Garden of the Royal Palace % 96  of Caserta. A magnificent specimen of P. roxburghii (Fig. 3) is still found in the Botanical Garden of Portici and because in the Notamento the plant is referred to as being pot-grown, the current pine may well be the same specimen. Fifty-nine of the species listed in the historical document are still present in the Botanical Garden. Although it was not possible to ascertain the occurrence of some plants due to the lack of documentation regarding the history of the plants in the Botanical Garden and in the entire Royal Palace grounds after 1865, it is conceivable that the accession of some of these specimens can be traced to the period preceding the document found at the State Archives of Naples.  Fig. 3. The specimen of Pinus roxbourghii Sarg. growing in the Botanical garden and its strobile. Compliance with Ethical Standards The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. References CHASE, M.W., CHRISTENHUSZ, M.J.M., FAY, M.F., BYNG, J.W., JUDD, W.S., SOLTIS, (...), WEBER, A. (2016): An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV. – Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 181(1): 1–20. CULLEN J. et al. (eds.) (1984–2000): The European Garden Flora. Vols. 1-6, Cambridge University Press. DEL PEZZO N. (1986): Siti Reali: il Palazzo Reale di Portici. In: Napoli nobilissima 5, fasc. 11. ERHARDT W., GÖTZ E., BÖDEKER N., SEYBOLD S. (2002): Zander - Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen. Ulmer, Stuttgart. 97  FIORI A. & PAOLETTI G. (1896-1908): Flora Analitica d’Italia. 1-4 Tipografia del Seminario, Padova. HOOKER J.D. & JACKSON B.D. (1997): Index Kewensis Plantarum Phanerogarum 2.0 © Oxford University Press. MAZZOLENI S. (1990): Una fonte inedita sui lavori per l’allestimento dei giardini e dei parchi della Villa Reale di Portici. Tipografia C. S. L., Naples. MOTTI R. (2001): Guida al riconoscimento degli arbusti ornamentali. Liguori, Naples. THE PLANT LIST 2013. Version 1.1. Published on the Internet: http//www.theplantlist.org (accessed 1st January). TRAVERSO O. (1926): Botanica orticola. Tip. Mario Ponzio, Pavia. Appendix 1. The annotated floristic list. ACANTHACEAE Eranthemum pulchellum Andrews (sub Ruellia varians) - Asia *Justicia carnea Lind. (sub J. carnea superba) - Brazil Justicia sp. (sub Cyrtantera) ACORACEAE  Acorus calamus L. - Asia ADOXACEAE *Viburnum opulus L. - Europe, northern Africa and central Asia  *Viburnum tinus L.  - Mediterranean region  AGAVACEAE  Polianthes tuberosa L. (sub Poliantes tuberosa) - Mexico AMARYLLIDACEAE  Hippeastrum miniatum Herb. (sub Amarillis atamasco) - Peru Narcissus spp. (sub Giunghiglie) Pyrolirion arvense (F. Dietr.) Erhardt, Goetz et Seybold (sub Amaryllis aurea) - Peru  Sprekelia formosissima (L.) Herb. (sub Amaryllis formosissima) – Mexico, Guatemala ANACARDIACEAE  *Schinus molle L. – South America  APOCYNACEAE  Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R. Br. ex Roemer et Schultes (sub Tabernaemontanum coronarium) - India Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don (sub Vinca rosea) - Madagascar ARACEAE  Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (sub Arum colocasia) – Malaysia (uncertain) ARECACEAE  *Phoenix dactylifera L. (sub Foenix dactylifera) – North Africa (uncertain) ASCLEPIADACEAE  Hoya carnosa (L. fil.) R. Br. - Australia  ASPARAGACEAE *Convallaria majalis L. – Europe, Asia  Eucomis comosa (Houtt.) Wehrh. (sub Eucomis punctata) - Asia   98  ASTERACEAE  Ageratum corymbosum Zucc. - Mexico Artemisia alba Turra (sub A. camphorata) - Europe Aster sp.  Bidens sambucifolia Cav. - Mexico Helichrysum orientale (L.) Gaertn. (sub Gnaphalium orientale) – North Africa Jurinea mollis (L.) Reichenb. (sub Acarna mollis) - Europe Matricaria chamomilla L. (sub Matricaria) - Europe and temperate Asia Senecio sp. (sub Senecium sp.) BEGONIACEAE  Begonia sp. BERBERIDACEAE  *Berberis vulgaris L. - Central and southern Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia  *Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt. (sub Mahonia fascicularis) – Western North America BIGNONIACEAE  *Tecomaria capensis (Thunb.) Spach (sub Bignonia capensis and sub Tecoma capensis) . Southern Africa BORAGINACEAE  *Heliotropium arborescens L. (sub Eliotropium peruvianum) - Peru BRASSICACEAE  *Iberis semperflorens L. – Southern Europe  Malcolmia chia (L.) DC. Central and eastern Mediterranean region  BROMELIACEAE  Pitcairnia sp.  BUDDLEJACEAE  Buddleja globosa Hope – Chile, Argentina  BUXACEAE  *Buxus balearica Lam. (sub Bux balearica) Mediterranean region CACTACEAE  *Cereus peruvianus (L.) Mill. (sub Cereus cilindricus) – South America CALYCANTHACEAE  Calycanthus floridus L. - Eastern United States  CAMPANULACEAE  *Lobelia laxiflora Humb., Bonpl. et Kunth (sub Siphocampylus bicolor) - South, Central, and North America  CAPRIFOLIACEAE  Lonicera sp.  *Lonicera tatarica L. - Siberia  CARYOPHYLLACEAE  Dianthus caryophyllus L. (sub Dijanthus caryophyllus) - Mediterranean region (uncertain) *Dianthus sp.  Lychnis chalcedonica L. - Asia  99  COMMELINACEAE  *Tradescantia zebrina Bosse (sub Tradescantia tricolor) Mexico CUPRESSACEAE  Thuja occidentalis L. 'Pyramidalis' (sub Thuja piramidalis)  DRACAENACEAE  Dracaena fontanesiana Schult. & Schult. fil. - Madagascar  ERICACEAE  Erica sp.  ESCALLONIACEAE  *Escallonia sp.  EUPHORBIACEAE  Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch (sub Poinsettia p.) - Mexico FABACEAE  Pachyrhyzus sp. (sub Pocorriza)  *Wisteria sinensis (Sims) Sweet (sub Clycine) - China GERANIACEAE  Pelargonium spp. (sub Geranium varietas) Pelargonium triste (L.) L'Hér ex Aiton – South Africa  HOSTACEAE  *Hosta spp. (sub Hoste varietas)  HYACINTHACEAE  *Hyacinthus orientalis L. (sub Giacinti doppi e semidoppi) - Asia HYDRANGEACEAE  *Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb. ex Murray) Ser. (sub H. japonica and sub H. hortensis) - Japan LAMIACEAE  Lavandula dentata L. - Europe  Mentha sp. (sub Menta vulgaris)  Clinopodium vimineum (L.) Kuntze. (sub Xenoprosma obovata) – C. America Origanum sp. (sub Origanum) Salvia africana-lutea L. (sub S. aurea) – South Africa Salvia involucrata Cav. - Mexico  *Salvia leucantha Cav. - Mexico  Salvia sp. (sub Salvia) *Teucrium fruticans L. - Europe, N.  LAURACEAE Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume (sub Laurus bensoin) – N. America LILIACEAE  Tulipa sp. (sub Tulipani)  LYTHRACEAE  *Lagerstroemia indica L. - Asia  Punica granatum L. 'Nana' (sub Punica nana)  100  MAGNOLIACEAE  *Magnolia grandiflora L. – N. America MALVACEAE  Abutilon grandifolium (Willd.) Sweet (sub Sida mollis) - S. America, S. Africa Abutilon sp.  Hibiscus mutabilis L. - China *Hibiscus rosa sinensis L. - Asia  Hibiscus spp. (sub Hibiscus var.)  MIMOSACEAE  Acacia dealbata Link -  Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. - Mexico Acacia sp. (sub Mimosa)  MORACEAE  Ficus benjamina L. (sub F. beniamina) – Asia, Australia *Ficus carica L.  *Ficus elastica Roxb - Asia MUSACEAE  *Musa x paradisiaca L. (sub Musa speciosa)  MYRTACEAE  *Eucalyptus sp.  Melaleuca decussata R. Br. ex W. T. Aiton - Australia  *Melaleuca ericifolia Sm. - Australia  *Metrosideros sp.  Psidium guajava L. (sub P. pyriferum) – C. and S. America  OLEACEAE  Jasminum azoricum L. Portugal  Jasminum sp.  *Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. - Japan  *Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea (sub Ulivo) – Europe (Uncertain)  *Osmanthus fragrans (Thunb.) Lour. (sub Olea fragrans) - Asia ONAGRACEAE  Fuchsia coccinea Aiton - S. America PAEONIACEAE  Paeonia spp. (sub Paeonie)  PAUWLONIACEAE Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb. ex Murray) Steud. (sub P. imperialis) - China  PHORMIACEAE  *Phormium tenax J. R. Forst. et G. Forst. – New Zealand  PINACEAE  *Pinus roxburghii Sarg. (sub P. longifolia) - Asia Pinus spp. (sub Pinus spp. pl.) PITTOSPORACEAE  *Pittosporum tobira (Thunb. ex Murray) W. T. Aiton (sub P. sinensis) - Asia 101  PLANTAGINACEAE  Globularia salicina Lam. (sub G. longifolia) – Madeira, Canary Islands *Russelia equisetiformis Schltdl. et Charm. (sub R. juncea) - Mexico Hebe speciosa Andersen (sub Veronica speciosa) - New Zealand  PLUMBAGINACEAE  Limonium sp. (sub Statice)  Plumbago auriculata Lam. (sub P. capensis) South Africa Plumbago zeylanica L. - Pantropical  POACEAE  *Aegilops geniculata Roth (sub Triticum ovarium) – Europe, W Asia  Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.) Sprengel (sub Cympogon schoenanthus) – Asia, N Africa  POLEMONIACEAE  Phlox paniculata L. – N America PRIMULACEAE  Primula veris L. s. l. - Europe, Asia  Primula sp.  PROTEACEAE  Hakea suaveolens R. Br. (sub H. pectinata) - Australia. RANUNCULACEAE  Ranunculus spp. (sub Ranuncoli and sub ranuncoli d'Olanda). ROSACEAE  Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ex Spach (sub Pyrus japonica) - Japan *Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lind. (sub Mespilus japonica) - China  *Prunus domestica L. (sub Prugne) - Europe *Prunus lusitanica L. - Europe  *Prunus persica L. (sub Pesche) - China Prunus spp.  *Pyrus communis L. (sub Pera) - Eastern Europe and southwest Asia  Rhaphiolepis indica (L.) Lindl. – China, Japan  *Rosa spp. (sub Rose). Spiraea sp.  RUBIACEAE  *Serissa foetida (L. fil.) Lam. - Asia  RUTACEAE  *Citrus aurantium L. (sub Aranci amari) - Asia  *Citrus limon (L.) Burm. fil. (sub Limoni) - Asia  *Citrus x sinensis (L.) Osbeck (sub C. chinense) - Asia  Citrus spp. (sub Cytrus di semi, aranci, mandarini, margotte di agrumi). Triphasia trifolia (Burm fil.) P. Wilson (sub Limonia trifoliata) - Asia  SCROPHULARIACEAE  Veronica sp.   102  SOLANACEAE  *Brugmansia arborea (L.) Lagerh. (sub Datura flore albo) – South America (now extinct in the wild) Cestrum elegans (Brongn. ex Neuman) Schltdl. (sub Abrotamnus elegans) - Mexico Cestrum sp. (sub Cestrum)  Petunia sp. (sub Petunia)  STRELITZIACEAE  *Strelitzia reginae Banks – South Africa  TAXACEAE  *Taxus baccata L. – Europe, Asia and northwest Africa TAXODIACEAE  Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. (sub Belis jaculifolia) - China, Vietnam and Laos THEACEAE  Camellia spp. (sub Camellie semplici) TILIACEAE  *Sparmannia africana L. fil. South Africa, Madagascar URTICACEAE  Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich. (sub Urtica nivea) - Asia VERBENACEAE  Aloysia chamaedryfolia Cham. (sub Lippia cametrifolia) - South America  Aloysia citriodora Palau - South America Callicarpa americana L. - Southern United States  Callicarpa tomentosa (L.) L. (sub C. tomentosum) – India, Sri Lanka *Duranta erecta L. (sub Duranta ellisii) – Mexico, Argentina, Brazil *Lantana camara L. - Central and South America  VIOLACEAE  Viola tricolor L. Europe  VITACEAE  Cissus antarctica Vent. - Australia  Vitis vinifera L. s. l. (sub Vite) - Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia  XANTHORRHOEACEAE *Aloe plicatilis (L.) Mill.  ZINGIBERACEAE  Alpinia nutans (L.) Roscoe - Asia *Hedychium coronarium J. König (sub Edichium coronaria) - Asia ZYGOPHYLLACEAE  Porlieria hygrometra Ruiz et Pav. (sub P. hygrometrica) – Bolivia, Chile and Peru    Received: January 28th 2018 Revised: October 31st 2018 Accepted: October 31st 2018 

The  Botanical  Garden  of  Portici,  Italy:  a  note  from 1865 on its first botanical collections

https://www.iris.unina.it/retrieve/handle/11588/751927/250121/Notamento.pdf

The Botanical Garden of Portici, Italy: a note from 1865 on its first botanical collections

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Archivio della ricerca - Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II