By CRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Fernando B. Matos
Flora Brasiliensis: Vol. I, Part I, Fasc. See Urban Plate 5 (1906)CRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Flora brasiliensis
The Flora Brasiliensis is a landmark in global botany. Although started in 1840, its Volume 1 was published last, in 1906, featuring 59 illustrations of Brazilian landscapes. In this story, we will embark on a 'botanical journey' through one of them, highlighting its plants.
Campos Gerais
The Campos Gerais represent a unique landscape of the southern Brazilian highlands, characterized by a humid subtropical climate and undulating terrain. Natural grasslands mingle with patches of Araucaria forests, creating a mosaic of rich plant diversity.
European naturalists
In December 1817, the Bavarian naturalists Spix and Martius departed from Rio de Janeiro for São Paulo, where they were captivated by the Campos Gerais. With them was the Austrian painter Thomas Ender, who captured the landscape we see here in watercolor.
Araucaria: the symbol of Campos Gerais
The tree that stands out most in this landscape is Araucaria angustifolia, a gymnosperm known as "Brazilian pine" or "Paraná pine". With straight trunks and candelabra-like crowns, its seeds, called "pinhões", nourish the fauna and are central to the local cultural heritage.
Other plants
In the foreground, to the left, stands Ouratea multiflora, a graceful small tree with large, shiny leaves. Its beautiful clusters of yellow flowers contrast with the green foliage, bringing life and color to the scene.
Just to the right, is Diplusodon ovatus, a subshrub with xylopodia and pink flowers, belonging to the Lythraceae family. Xylopodia are woody underground stems that store water and nutrients, enabling these plants to survive during dry periods.
Off to the right, the "cataia" (Drimys brasiliensis) and "Paraguayan coca" (Erythroxylum campestre) shrubs stand side by side, with the "moonflower" vine (Ipomoea alba) climbing their branches, gracing the scene with its stunning white flowers.
Thick clumps of Baccharis, with their small resinous leaves, stand next to the climbing stems of Cynophalla flexuosa, a white-flowered Capparaceae known as "limber caper" or "bay-leaved caper". Also prominent are the various species of grass.
Along the path, many "pineapples" (Ananas comosus) grow, a bromeliad whose juicy fruits offer sweet relief to travelers. However, harvest with caution: beyond the sharp spines, a small venomous snake often hides among the leaves.
Although the Campos Gerais preserve a mosaic of unique ecosystems, the expansion of agriculture and intensive grazing threaten local biodiversity. Protecting these areas is essential to maintaining the rich diversity of species that inspired the works of Martius.
Research and text: Fernando B. Matos (CRIA)
Mounting: Fernando B. Matos (CRIA)
Revision: Renato De Giovanni (CRIA)
References: Flora Brasiliensis (http://florabrasiliensis.cria.org.br/opus); Viagem pelo Brasil (Travels in Brazil) (https://www2.senado.leg.br/bdsf/handle/id/573991)
Additional information: http://florabrasiliensis.cria.org.br/stories
Acknowledgements: This account was based on the explanatory text accompanying Lithograph 5 in Flora Brasiliensis (Martius 1906: 7-8).
*Every effort has been made to credit images and audio and video files and to correctly recount the episodes narrated in the exhibitions. Where there are errors or omissions, please contact us at: contato@cria.org.br
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