The developments on engraving between the 16th and 19th centuries, had a significant impact in the representation and conception of plants. During the Renaissance, the printing of botanic graphics started to reflect a more scientific approach, with xylographic illustrations that helped in the necessary identification of species for their medicinal purpose.

The different libraries of the Universitat de València preserves a valuable collection, not exhaustive but abundant, with books with botanic graphics that show the changes over the centuries in the way of perceiving and represent the plant world. These books come from own purchases but in many cases, from donations and disentailments.