We analyze the work of Frei Vellozo (1741-1811) entitled “Flora Fluminensis” from both a botanical and an historical standpoint. From 1783 to 1790, a team lead by Frei Vellozo traveled throughout the territory of Rio de Janeiro with the aim of producing a detailed survey of the plants growing in the region. Thirty-nine years later, Vellozo’s work was published with 1,639 descriptions of plants in Latin and 11 volumes in folio of botanical illustrations of these plants. This work is highly relevant scientifically, especially when compared to other books and compendia that were produced at this time in Europe. In order to elucidate the production process and the quality of the “Flora Fluminensis”, we provide an interpretation of the way botany was carried out in the late 18th century.
Botany; History of Brazil; 18th century; Friar Vellozo; Flora; Rio de Janeiro
