The algological herbarium is divided into two sections: one general and one dedicated to calcareous red algae (Corallinales P.C. Silva & H. W. Johansen), articulated or not.

There are 5,426 samples algae including 326 samples of Corallinales.

Algae

This herbarium consists of samples of Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta, regarding 295 genus and 740 species. The most common genres in the collection are: Fucus L., Dictyopteris J.V. Lamouroux, Dictyota J.V. Lamouroux, Cystoseira C. Agardh, Enteromorpha Link, Ulva L., Ceramium Roth, Nitophyllum Greville. Most of the samples date back to the late XIX century and the period between 1960 and 1970 (collected mainly by Sandro Pignatti, Giuseppe Giaccone, Paolo De Cristini). There are also 85 samples collected between 1850 and 1860, as well as some older samples dating back to 1759, which could be considered a historical collection.

Digital photographic documentation is available for approximately one fifth of the samples.

The specimens come mainly from the Upper Adriatic as well as from the Mediterranean Basin (central-southern Adriatic, the Aegean Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ligurian Sea and the coasts of Sicily and Sardinia).

There are also more than 900 samples from the Atlantic Ocean (North Sea, English and French coasts), Central-Southern Americas and Afro-Asian and Australian areas.

Calcareous red algae

A section of the algological herbarium is dedicated to the "Nova Collectio Corallinales - TSB", a collection of calcareous red algae prepared by Guido Bressan and collaborators and in continuous implementation.

There are 326 samples of calcareous red algae, articulated, encrusting and free-rolling, for a total of 44 species (including 6 forms and 2 varieties), as well as 2 holotypes (Hydrolithon cruciatum (Bressan) Chamberlain and Titanoderma ramosissimum (Heydrich) Bressan et Cabioc'h). There are also numerous fossil samples.

The most represented genres are: Amphiroa J.V. Lamouroux, Titanoderma Nägeli, Lithophyllum Philippi, Lithothamnion Heydrich, Corallina L. and Neogoniolithon Setchell & L.R. Mason. Samples are integrated in some cases by SEM microscopic preparations.

Two Algae databases and the Key of dichotomous identification of calcareous red algae from the Mediterranean are available (Bressan & Babbini, 2003).

For the correct and updated nomenclature see “AlgaeBase”.