HCI_ITALY_WEB is the database for all the taxonomic entities held in the Herbarium Centrale Italicum (HCI) relative to the Italian territory (past and current).

The full scientific name, any references and occurrence of typus material are given for each taxon.

The database refers to both phanerogamic and fern and fern-allies names. Please, note that ferns have not a 'Family' reference but the generic term 'Filices'.

SCIENTIFIC NAME - the relative fields give the full name for the taxon as it appears in the HCI, together with any 'historical' versions: from the Flora italiana of F. Parlatore (vols. 1-5:1848-1876, then continued by T. Caruel, vols. 6-10: 1884-1894) to updates in the Flora Europaea (1964, in progress) and beyond.

REFERENCES - this field gives:
a) any bibliographical citations, primarily for typus material;
b) references to other names and/or to floristic records or Notulae alla checklist della flora vascolare italiana (designated with the Italian initials for the region/s and the number of the note published in the Informatore Botanico Italiano if referring to native plants or the same data but preceded by 'E' if relative to exotic plants);
c) particular localities, such as small isles;
d) any identification errors;
e) particular cases (e.g. 'culta').

TYPUS - this heading is divided into two fields:
- TYPUS RANK - indicates the rank or nature of the typus
- TYPUS OF - indicates the nomenclature of the typus when it does not correspond to the accepted name of the taxon

ITALIAN REGIONS - these are given in a north-west to north-east direction (from Liguria to Friuli Venezia Giulia) and then in a north to south direction (from Emilia Romagna).
The list includes the current names of the Italian Regions (as at 2011) plus the names of historical regions, both pre- and post-Italian Unity: Venezia Tridentina, Tirolo Italiano, Venezia (Euganea), Regione Giulia, Istria.
As well as these, there are other territories which have never been part of the Italian State but whose historical collections are considered in the old Italian floras: Canton Ticino, Corsica, Malta (included in Sicilia). It should be noted that the present day material from these territories are all inserted in the foreign collections.
The old and new Italian Regions are followed by two fields: "Out of Italy" and "Incertae Sedis" (in those cases where it is not possible to collocate the material).

1. in the GEOGRAPHICAL SEARCH it is possible to set taxonomical filters and select the Italian regions (at least one!). It is present the operator 'OR'.
   The presence of the taxon in a region is indicated by 'X', the presence of a typus by 'XT';


2. in the ADVANCED SEARCH it is possible to make a wide range investigation, setting more filters (arranged with the operator 'AND') and various types of filter as:
   • search of a datum in every field (writing the text in the box near the 'finder' icon );
   • search of a datum in a specific field (clicking on the 'finder' icon and selecting the relevant field);
   • more particular filters thanks to the tool 'FILTER' (clicking on 'action' icon on the right and selecting the filter icon ).

Loans of material may be requested from the HCI_ITALY_WEB by means of an e-mail addressed to musbot@unifi.it which must specify the name of the taxon/taxa and the regions desired.
Specimens, up to a maximum of 40-50, are only lent to institutions recognised by the Index Herbariorum. Up to a maximum of 30 images (both of specimens and labels) may also be requested.
Loans requested are dispatched at regular intervals, on average every 4-6 weeks.