A native of Coreglia, near Lucca, Benedetto Puccinelli succeeded Paolo Volpi as director of the Botanical Gardens of Lucca. He held this position for twenty years, from 1830 to 1850, the year of his premature death. He was professor of chemistry, botany and agriculture at the University Secondary School and at the Lucca Secondary School. Through his work, azaleas and camellias became widespread throughout the territory of Lucca. He compiled important manuscripts on fungi and ferns, illustrated by watercolours, and subsequently made a study of how to acclimatize exotic plants. Lastly, he produced a precious catalogue of the plants present in the territory of Lucca during the 19 th century.