The Flora database gets a new look
Florabank is a database containing distribution data on native and naturalised alien species in Flanders and the Brussels-Capital Region. It contains approximately 6.5 million records of vascular plants and mosses from 1800 to the present day. Most of the distribution data comes from strip lists. These are species lists that are as complete as possible for each 1 km² grid square. This inventory system has been in place since 1939 and is still in use today. The database also contains individual observations and historical data from herbaria and literature.
All this data is now freely accessible and downloadable via a new web application. You can view distribution maps, request species lists or observations per kilometre square and enter your own observations and strip lists. All plant and moss data from Florabank are published here on GBIF and the Flemish Biodiversity Portal. This makes them available worldwide for research and nature conservation.
The new website also contains a wealth of species information, such as Red List status, Ellenberg values, legal status, global distribution and habitat preference. This information can also be consulted and downloaded free of charge.
The database is an initiative of INBO, the Meise Botanical Garden, the non-profit organisation Flo.Wer (Floristic Working Groups) and the Bryology and Lichenology Working Group.
Wouter Van Landuyt, Frederic Piesschaert
The spread of devil's-bit before 2000 (blue) and since 2000 (red)
The spread of the invasive exotic species fleabane before 2000 (blue) and from 2000 onwards (red)
