How did the printing press change the study of medicinal plants?

The printing press revolutionized the study of medicinal plants by significantly increasing the availability of herbals—manuals used to identify plants for medical purposes.12

Before the widespread use of printing, illustrations in manuscripts were often copies of copies, becoming highly stylized and frequently unidentifiable. The printing press facilitated a shift toward greater objectivity and scientific inquiry. Key changes included:1

• Improved Accuracy: As printing technology advanced, the quality of botanical illustrations improved. Early printed herbals, such as those by Otto Brunfels, began to feature accurate, original drawings rather than stylized, mythological depictions.1
• Shift to Original Observation: While early printed works relied heavily on ancient authorities like Dioscorides, the medium eventually encouraged original observation and the documentation of new plant species brought back by explorers.12
• Standardization: The press allowed for the dissemination of consistent information, which helped transition the field from a reliance on superstitious theories—such as the doctrine of signatures—toward the more systematic study of plants that eventually evolved into modern botany.12

Would you like to learn more about how these early printed herbals eventually transitioned into the scientific study of "floras"?