John Krosbein is thought to have been active in the second half of fourteenth century and as such his commentary on De plantis is an isolated case, which lengthens the Pseudo-Aristotelian text's re...

The theory of spontaneous generation was developed by Aristotle, mainly in his biological works. In Aristotle, this issue was linked with some significant doctrines, such as that of pneuma. In medieval thought, the theory was known as generatio ex putrefactione. Albert the Great addresses it not only to explain the generation of certain animals, such as insects, but also to elucidate the generation of certain plants. Moreover, in Albert the Great’s De vegetabilibus, putrefaction is conceived as a process that simply (...) pertains to the life of plants: putredo is one of the three principles of plant generation, meaning that plants need putrefaction to germinate and grow, even if seeds initially bring them about. In Albert’s explanation, there is only a thin line between spontaneous and conventional generation in plants, so that putrefaction and generation are two symbiotic concepts in the vegetal world. (shrink)

This article proposes an analysis of the sources used in Albert the Great’s De vegetabilibus to explain the compilative strategy with which the Dominican master tries to reconstruct the botanical science. Following a classification of the genres, the main encyclopaedic, lexicographical, medical and pharmacological sources that influenced the work of the doctor universalis are listed. It is also aimed at analysing the interest that motivates Albert’s content choices. In this way, the work is put in relation to the main texts (...) that constituted the botanical panorama, outlining the innovation of its contribution. (shrink)

In his De vegetabilibus Albert the Great elaborates a complex physiological explanation in order to describe the vital functions of plants. This explanation is based on some relevant medical doctrines, such as that of radical moisture and digestion, which Albert translates from human into plant physiology. On the basis of these doctrines, Albert develops an intricate system of moistures, by means of which he detailedly explains the generation of each part of plants, such as the leaves, flowers and fruits. In (...) this study, after briefly reconstructing the history of these doctrines, the main aspects of Albert’s plant physiology will be analysed. (shrink)

In his De vegetabilibus Albert the Great elaborates a complex physiological explanation in order to describe the vital functions of plants. This explanation is based on some relevant medical doctrines, such as that of radical moisture and digestion, which Albert translates from human into plant physiology. On the basis of these doctrines, Albert develops an intricate system of moistures, by means of which he detailedly explains the generation of each part of plants, such as the leaves, flowers and fruits. In (...) this study, after briefly reconstructing the history of these doctrines, the main aspects of Albert’s plant physiology will be analysed. (shrink)

The change of plant species, that is the transmutatio plantarum, is a crucial topic, which raises significant philosophical problems. Here, almost unnoticed, hides a significant moment of the proce...