Guest blog post by Dr. Mara Marić
Contemporary floristic research is based on quantitative and standardized approaches, supported by various tools for identification and data analysis. However, historical data on the flora of particular regions still serve as an essential foundation. It was precisely this historical context that motivated our research, now available in Italian Botanist.
Nearly two centuries ago, botany in Central Europe began to emerge as an independent scientific discipline, a process in which amateur botanists played an important role. During the 1830s and 1840s, botany was often referred to as scientia amabilis and experienced significant expansion, reflected in the rapid increase in described plant species and intensified exploration. At that time, Dalmatia appeared “exotic” to researchers from continental Europe, but also highly attractive for study, particularly because many of its areas remained poorly explored.
We were intrigued by references to lesser-known botanists appearing in Central European botanical journals of that period. Our aim was to identify who these individuals were, what their contributions had been, and how their research was conducted and organized. In this context, the work of Roberto de Visiani, professor of botany and director of the Botanical Garden in Padua, is essential. He gathered a wide network of collaborators across Dalmatia and significantly contributed to the systematic study of its flora. His Flora Dalmatica is the result of such collaborative efforts.
Among these collaborators, Joseph Martin Neumayer (1791-1840) stood out. Although described by his contemporaries as “an industrious and intelligent collector of plants” and “a living encyclopedia”, his life and scientific contribution remained largely unknown, and even basic biographical details were recorded incorrectly. This gap became the main impetus for our research.
In addition to reviewing historical scientific literature, the most valuable sources were letters exchanged between Neumayer and Visiani, preserved in the archives of the Botanical Garden of the University of Padua. The research was further expanded through archival material from the State Archives in Dubrovnik, as well as parish birth and death records. Through these sources, a picture gradually emerged of a highly dedicated and enthusiastic researcher, fully committed to fieldwork and the development of herbarium collections, which he exchanged with leading botanists of his time.
The letters reveal that botanical expeditions were demanding and often risky, conducted in the rugged mountainous regions of the Dubrovnik hinterland and Montenegro, as well as in the malaria-prone areas of the Neretva valley. Thanks to these efforts, many plant species from these regions were recorded for the first time. Neumayer also proved to be a “Renaissance-type” researcher, extending his interests beyond plants to mosses, lichens, amphibians, and various groups of insects.
This research reminds us that behind every scientific endeavor, both in the past and today, stand curiosity, perseverance, and a deep commitment to one’s work.
Original source:
Marić M, Jasprica N, Maslek J (2026) The contribution of amateur botanists to the advancement of botanical science in the first half of the 19th century: The case of Joseph Martin Neumayer (1791–1840). Italian Botanist 21: 109-138. https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.21.183349