Flora pompeiana

Annamaria Ciarallo's volume Flora Pompeiana offers an interdisciplinary reconstruction of the natural environment, agricultural activities, and botanical knowledge in the Vesuvian region before the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. By integrating literary sources, ancient iconography, and modern analytical techniques—such as palynology and the examination of macro- and micro-remains—the author traces the ancient climate, various habitats, and the process of species acclimatization, including early evidence for citrus cultivation. The study systematically documents the functional, medicinal, and economic roles of plants in Roman provincial life, analyzing timber utilization, crop management, and urban green spaces. Additionally, the text addresses the post-discovery perception of the ruins, examining the historical aesthetic of vegetation and providing empirical strategies for weed control and botanical conservation within the contemporary archaeological park. Detailed floristic indices and artifact inventories establish a comprehensive empirical framework for future environmental research.