The complete botanical watercolours of the 16th-century Libri Picturati Plates on cover: front A22.039 Dragon arum (Dracunculus vulgaris) back A2S.039v-40 Rusty foxglove (Digitalisferruginea)(Digitalis ferruginea) and A18.oS8 Garden tiger moth (Arctia caja) on Mullein (Verbascum) Double plates on endpapers: front A27.043V-44 Bear's breech (Acanthus mollis) back A27.062V-63 Globe thistle (Echinops sphaerocephalus) Editors Hortus botanicus Leiden (the Netherlands) HoRus Dr. Ir. Jan de Koning, Dr. Gerda van Uffelen Botanical Museum and Garden of Krak6w University (Poland) botanicus Dr. Alicja Zemanek, Dr. Bogdan Zemanek LEI DEN Text Dr. Florike Egmond (Rome, Italy and Leiden, the Netherlands) Prof. Dr. Lipke B. Holthuis (Leiden, the Netherlands) Dr. Piotr Hordynski (Krak6w, Poland) Dr. Ir. Jan de Koning (Leiden, the Netherlands) Prof. Dr. Tomasz Majewski (Krak6w, Poland) Dr. LUIs Ram6n-Laca (Madrid, Spain) Dr. Renate Schipke (Berlin, Germany) Prof. Dr. Andrea Ubrizsy Savoia (Rome, Italy) Dr. Gerda van Uffelen (Leiden, the Netherlands) Dr. Alicja Zemanek (Krak6w, Poland) Dr. Bogdan Zemanek (Krak6w, Poland) IllustrationsJ1/ustrations and lithography This publication was financially supported byby:: Jagiellonian Library, Krak6w Gratama Stichting Hortus botanicus Leiden Copy editor M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandt Stichting Femke Frietema Stichting Dioraphte Universiteit Leiden / Stichting Leiden University Press Graphic layout.layout, design and cover design Van der Mandele Stichting x-hoogte· Hans Lodewijkx Printed by f ioraPhte Printer Trento • Italy Universiteit Leiden Printed on Mixed Sources VAN DER MAN DELE STICHllNGSTICHTING I;s Product group from welHnaMged forests and other controUed sources Gratama Stichting FSC ~~c:~~~.oooo'2 © KNNV Publishing, Zeist, the Netherlands 2008 ISBN 978 90 S011 238 3 NUR 941 www.knnvpublishing.nl Discovering nature and getting close to it KNNV Publishing specialises in unique works on nature and landscape: easily accessible field guides, conservation manuals, distribution atlases and much more. KNNV Publishing also produces chronicles on nature conservation, beautifully illustrated books on natural, cultural and landscape history, travel guides, children's books and, last but not least, the journal 'Natura'. All these works help to make valuable knowledge gathered by scientists and amateur researchers available to a broad public. By producing these works, KNNV Publishing contributes to nature conservation and to the enjoyment of nature. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by print, photocopy, microfilm or any other means without the written permission from the publisher. .