The Botany Division, is active in the research on flora and vegetation of the Mediterranean, with emphasis on Greece and mainly on Crete. It manages, enriches and maintains the Herbarium collections on NHMC, and a small living collection of plants, close to NHMC. It contributes to the management and enrichment of the photographic archive of NHMC. It participates in many educational programs, aiming for environmental awareness and dissemination of knowledge about plants and vegetation. It manages the flora database of NHMC. It participates in the creation of various NHMC exhibitions. It collaborates with universities and other institutions, in various research programs.
Plant collections, include dried herbarium specimens of higher plants (Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Angiosperms) mainly from Crete and secondarily from mainland Greece and East Mediterranean countries.
All catalogued specimens include complete sampling data (location, date, researcher who collected them and/or identified them, etc.)
Most recent specimens, include the exact gps point of the locality of the specimens and is saved in the field codes of the NHMC database.
In the Herbarium room, specimens are put in “Genus files” and stored in “Family shelfs”. Families are arranged by “evolutionary order” according to Flora Europaea and not by Alphabetic order.
The number of specimens destroyed-damaged by a recent (2019) insect infection, has not been evaluated yet and will be known after the herbarium’s current revision.
| Curator of higher plants | Emmanouil Avramakis |
| Conservator | Emmanouil Avramakis |
| Number of Catalogued specimens | 7.548 |
| Estimated total number of specimens | About 12.000 |
| Holotypes | 10 |
| Isotypes | 12 |
| Field codes fc | 35% of the specimens, besides Herbarium protocol number, have an NHMC field code (fc) |
| Specimen storage | In a low temperature room |
| Independent Parallel Collections | Herbarium of Zacharias Kypriotakis |
| Other Integrated Collections | Flora Cypria, collection.
Donation of Kyriakos Georgiou |
| Percentage of databased specimens | About 60% |
| Public availability of the Collections | After communication with the Curator/ Conservator |
Holotype – Isotype Catalogue
Curator
Museum technician – Collection managers
Collaborating researchers
Παλιά μέλη
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Damanakis Michael
Michael Damanakis (Previous Director NHMC xχχχ-χχχ) 
Kagiampaki Anna
Anna Kagiampaki (Phd Student)
Kotzabasis Kiriakos
Kiriakos Kotzabasis (Associated scientist)
Research papers
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2024_Ornithogalum christiniae
Kypriotakis, Z., Tzanoudakis, D., Antaloudaki, E. (2024) Ornithogalum christiniae (Asparagaceae): a new species from an offshore islet on the Cretan area (S. Aegean, Greece). Nordic Journal of Botany., e04485. 
2024 New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions,
Sabovljević, M.S., Tomović, G., Sabovljević, A.D., Tamas, G., Ștefănuț, S., Janković, S., Rajčević, N., Kutnar, L., Denchev, T.T., Denchev, C.M., Djordjević, V., Krdžić, S., Antaloudaki, E., Kasom, G., Stoykov, D., Dimitrov, D., Aleksić, G.R., Alvarado, P., Lobnik Cimerman, Ž., Dolničar, D. (2024) New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 17. Botanica Serbica, 48(1):105-116.
2023 Species of Greece Associated with Their Ecological Profiles
Hatzilazarou, S., Pipinis, E., Kostas, S., Stagiopoulou, R., Gitsa, K., Dariotis, E., Avramakis, M., Samartza, I., Plastiras, I., Kriemadi, E., Bareka, P., Lykas, C., Tsoktouridis, G., Krigas, N. (2023) Influence of Temperature on Seed Germination of Five Wild-Growing Tulipa Species of Greece Associated with Their Ecological Profiles: Implications for Conservation and Cultivation. Plants, 12(7):1574.
2023 GIS-Facilitated Seed Germination, Fertilization Effects on Growth
Hatzilazarou, S., Kostas, S., Pipinis, E., Anestis, I., Papaioannou, E., Aslanidou, V., Tsoulpha, P., Avramakis, M., Krigas, N., Tsoktouridis, G. (2023) GIS-Facilitated Seed Germination, Fertilization Effects on Growth, Nutrient and Phenol Contents and Antioxidant Potential in Three Local Endemic Plants of Crete (Greece) with Economic Interest: Implications for Conservation and Sustainable Exploitation. Horticulturae, 9(3), 335.
2022 Phylogenetic relationships of Origanum taxa (Lamiaceae) from Greece: Initial insights from molecular and morphological data.
Antaloudaki, E., Mylonas, M., Kyrpiotakis, Z., Poulakakis, N. (2022) Phylogenetic relationships of Origanum taxa (Lamiaceae) from Greece: Initial insights from molecular and morphological data. Botanica Serbica, 46(1), 71-83.
2021 Medicinal-Cosmetic Potential of the Local Endemic Plants of Crete (Greece), Northern Morocco and Tunisia: Priorities for Conservation and Sustainable Exploitation of Neglected and Underutilized Phytogenetic Resources.
Bourgou, S., Ben Haj Jilani, I., Karous, O., Megdiche-Ksouri, W., Ghrabi-Gammar, Z., Libiad, M., Khabbach, A., El Haissoufi, M., Lamchouri, F., Greveniotis, V., Avramakis, M., Hatzilazarou, S., Anestis, I., Tsoktouridis, G., Krigas, N. (2021) Medicinal-Cosmetic Potential of the Local Endemic Plants of Crete (Greece), Northern Morocco and Tunisia: Priorities for Conservation and Sustainable Exploitation of Neglected and Underutilized Phytogenetic Resources. Biology, 10(12), 1344.
2020 Vision-Based Decision-Making Methodology for Riparian Forest Restoration and Flood Protection Using Nature-Based Solutions.
Lilli, M. A., Nerantzaki, S. D., Riziotis, C., Kotronakis, M., Efstathiou, D., Kontakos, D., Lymberakis, P., Avramakis, M., Tsakirakis, A., Protopapadakis, K., Nikolaidis, N. (2020) Vision-Based Decision-Making Methodology for Riparian Forest Restoration and Flood Protection Using Nature-Based Solutions. Sustainability, 12(8), 3305.
2020 Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the assential oils of three closely related Hypericum species growing wild on the island of Crete, Greece.
Grafakou, M.-E., Diamanti, A., Antaloudaki, E., Kypriotakis, Z., Ćirić, A., Soković, M., Skaltsa, H. (2020) Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the assential oils of three closely related Hypericum species growing wild on the island of Crete, Greece. Applied Sciences, 10(8), 2823.
2019 Endemic plants of Crete in electronic trade and wildlife tourism: current patterns and implications for conservation.
Menteli, V., Krigas, N., Avramakis, M., Turland, N., Vokou, D. (2019) Endemic plants of Crete in electronic trade and wildlife tourism: current patterns and implications for conservation. J of Biol Res-Thessaloniki, 26, 10.
2018 Ornithogalum insulare (Hyacinthaceae): A new species from the Cretan area (S. Aegean, Greece).
Kypriotakis, Z., Antaloudaki, E., Tzanoudakis, D. (2018) Ornithogalum insulare (Hyacinthaceae): A new species from the Cretan area (S. Aegean, Greece). Botanica Serbica, 42(1), 117-122.
Books - Chapters in Books
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2015 Crete: a continent in an island (B. Petre, Trans. In engl.).
Tsantilis, D. (2015) Crete: a continent in an island (B. Petre, Trans. in engl.). In A. Trichas, & M. Mylonas (Eds.) (English editing K. Vardinoyannis), (pp.276.). Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete ISBN: 978-960-367-037-72014 Crete: a continent in an island (in greek).
Tsantilis, D. (2014) Crete: a continent in an island (in greek)., (pp.278.), Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, ISBN: 978-960-367-036-02013 Ecotouristic guide of Sitia nature park (in greek and in english).
Fassoulas, C. (Coord.), Staridas, S., Perakis, N., Mavroudi, N., Trichas, A., Avramakis, M., Perakis, V., Mavrokosta, C. (2013) Ecotouristic guide of Sitia nature park (in greek and in english)., (pp.128.), Natural History Museum of Crete - University of Crete; Sitia Nature Park, ISBN: 978-ISBN:960-367-034-6, ISBN: 978-960-367-035-32008 The Geological Heritage of Psiloritis (Gr, En) (G. Owens, Trans.)
Fassoulas, C., Trichas, A., Avramakis, E. (Vardinogiannis, K. Text Check) (2008) The Geological Heritage of Psiloritis (Gr, En) (G. Owens, Trans.), (pp.155.), Psiloritis Natural Park, AKOMM; Psiloritis Development OTA S.A., Anogia, Crete, Greece2006 Mountainous Crete (in english and in greek).
Xirouchakis, S., Probonas, M., Grivas, C., Avramakis, M. (2006) Mountainous Crete (in english and in greek)., (pp.78.), Natural History Museum of Crete, ISBN: 960-367-018-9; ISBN: 960-367-019-7Cephalanthera cucullata (in greek).
Alibertis, A., Avramakis, M. (2009) Cephalanthera cucullata (in greek). In D. Phitos, Th. Konstantinidis & G. Kamari (Eds.), The Red Data Book of Rare and Threatened Plants of Greece, Volume 1 A-D (in greek). (pp. 258-260). Hellenic Botanical SocietyAnnouncements in Conferences
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Master's theses
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2004 Phytogeographical study of the southern Aegean arc (in greek).
Kagiampaki, A. (2004) Phytogeographical study of the southern Aegean arc (in greek). M. Sc., Univ. of Crete pp.163. 
2000 Study of morphological taxonomic characters in populations of taxa from Genea section, genus Bromus (Poaceae) in Crete (in greek).
Tsekoura, Z. (2000) Study of morphological taxonomic characters in populations of taxa from Genea section, genus Bromus (Poaceae) in Crete (in greek). M. Sc., Univ. of Crete pp.62.
PhD theses
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2022 Molecular and Morphological Phylogeny of genus Origanum in Greece (in greek).
Antaloudaki, E. (2022) Molecular and Morphological Phylogeny of genus Origanum in Greece (in greek). Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. of Crete. pp.162
2011 Contemporary phytogeographical analysis in the Central and Southern Aegean archipelago (in greek).
Kagiampaki, A. (2011) Contemporary phytogeographical analysis in the Central and Southern Aegean archipelago (in greek). Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. of Crete. pp.297.
Programs
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2024 Ψηφιοποίηση συλλογών φυσικής ιστορίας του Μουσείου Φυσικής Ιστορίας
Digitization of Greek Natural History Collections & Supply and installation of scientific equipment for the digitization of natural history collections under the project
P.I.: Nikos Poulakakis
Duration: 2024 - 2025
Funding: Recovery and Resilience Plan, Greece v 2.0, Next Generation EU (5,724.425€ (2,594.391€ for UoC) )
P.I.: Nikos Poulakakis
Duration: 2024 - 2025
Funding: Recovery and Resilience Plan, Greece v 2.0, Next Generation EU (5,724.425€ (2,594.391€ for UoC) )
2023_LIFE on mARTS
LIFE on mARTS
P.I.: Iasmi Stathi
Duration: 2023 - 2025
Funding: European Commission (Ε.C.) ERASMUS+ (25.860€)
P.I.: Iasmi Stathi
Duration: 2023 - 2025
Funding: European Commission (Ε.C.) ERASMUS+ (25.860€)
2023 Βιοποικιλότητα και Αρχαιολογικοί Χώροι – Καταγραφή Χλωρίδας και Πανίδας στους Αρχαιολογικούς Χώρους
Biodiversity in Archaeological Sites (BIAS)
P.I: Pafilis Panagiotis
Duration: 2023 - 2024
Funding: Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency
P.I: Pafilis Panagiotis
Duration: 2023 - 2024
Funding: Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency
2023 Αξιολόγηση κατάστασης διατήρησης οικοτόπων – HAB_MON
Habitat Conservation Status Assessment - HAB_MON
P.I: Dimopoulos Panagiotis
Duration: 2023 - 2024
Funding: OΙΚΟM Environmental Studies Ltd.
P.I: Dimopoulos Panagiotis
Duration: 2023 - 2024
Funding: OΙΚΟM Environmental Studies Ltd.
2022 Εκτίμηση της λιβαδικής κατάστασης και του καθεστώτος βόσκησης επί της νήσου Γυάρου και διαμόρφωση προτάσεων για τη θέσπιση διαχειριστικών μέτρων
Assessment of the meadow condition and the grazing regime on the island of Gyaros and formulation of proposals for the introduction of management measures
P.I.: Petros Lymberakis
Duration: 1/1/2022 - 31/12/2023
Funding: WWF Hellas (26,970.00 €)
P.I.: Petros Lymberakis
Duration: 1/1/2022 - 31/12/2023
Funding: WWF Hellas (26,970.00 €)
2022 DISSCo Prepare – Κατανεμημένο Συστημα Επιστημονικών Συλλογών – Πρόγραμμα Προπαρασκευαστικής Φάσης
DISSCo Prepare - Distributed System of Scientific Collections - Preparatory Phase Project
P.I.: Petros Lymberakis
Duration: 24/2/2020 - 28/2/2023
Funding: European Commission / DG Research & Innovation (12,890.63 €)
P.I.: Petros Lymberakis
Duration: 24/2/2020 - 28/2/2023
Funding: European Commission / DG Research & Innovation (12,890.63 €)
2019 Δράσεις ενημέρωσης – ευαισθητοποίησης των πολιτών με σκοπό την ανάδειξη και προστασίατων οικοτόπων και της βιοποικιλότητας της Κρήτης στο ΜΦΙΚ 2017ΕΠ00210024
Public awareness activities for the promotion and conservation of habitats and biodiversity of Crete, in Natural History Museum of Crete 2017ΕΠ00210024
P.I.: Nikos Poulakakis
Duration: 2019-10/8/2022
Funding: Region of Crete (974,957.41 €)
P.I.: Nikos Poulakakis
Duration: 2019-10/8/2022
Funding: Region of Crete (974,957.41 €)
2018 Μελέτη αποκατάστασης της παρόχθιας βλάστησης του ποταμού Κοιλιάρη
Restoration study of the riparian vegetation of Koiliaris River
P.I.: Petros Lymberakis
Duration: 1/12/2018 - 31/3/2020
Funding: Technical University of Crete (TUC) (15,558.60 €)
P.I.: Petros Lymberakis
Duration: 1/12/2018 - 31/3/2020
Funding: Technical University of Crete (TUC) (15,558.60 €)
2012 Εμπεριστατωμένη εκτίμηση των περιβαλλοντικών επιπτώσεων για τον ηλιοθερμικό ενεργειακό σταθμό ισχύος 50MW στην τοποθεσία Ακρωτήρι-ΚΑΕ82596
Comprehensive environmental impact assessment for the 50MW solar thermal power station at Akrotiri-ΚΑΕ82596
P.I.: Moisis Mylonas
Duration: 15/2/2012 -
Funding: ()
P.I.: Moisis Mylonas
Duration: 15/2/2012 -
Funding: ()
2008 Δικτυακή πύλη Δήμου Μαλλίων
Web portal of the Municipality of Mallia
P.I.: Moisis Mylonas
Duration: 18/9/2008 -
Funding: Municipality of Mallia (39,461.50 €)
P.I.: Moisis Mylonas
Duration: 18/9/2008 -
Funding: Municipality of Mallia (39,461.50 €)
2008 Δημιουργία πρώτης Κιβωτού ενδημικής χλωρίδας στο Γιούχτα
Creation of the first Ark of endemic flora in Giouchtas mt.
P.I.: Kiriakos Kotzabasis
Duration: 24/1/2008 - 20/10/2008
Funding: Private Sector (73,780.00 €)
P.I.: Kiriakos Kotzabasis
Duration: 24/1/2008 - 20/10/2008
Funding: Private Sector (73,780.00 €)
News
Below you will find the news about the Botany Division. For all the museum’s news, click here.
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