Editing Colosseum (section)

== Flora ==
[[File:Weed Whacking the Colosseum (2883935844).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Weed control]]
The Colosseum has a wide and well-documented history of [[Flora (plants)|flora]] ever since [[Domenico Panaroli]] made the first catalogue of its plants in 1643. Since then, 684 species have been identified there. The peak was in 1855 (420 species). Attempts were made in 1871 to eradicate the vegetation, because of concerns over the damage that was being caused to the masonry, but much of it has returned.<ref name="claridge"/> Two hundred forty-two species have been counted today and of the species first identified by Panaroli, 200 remain.

The variation of plants can be explained by the change of climate in Rome through the centuries. Additionally, [[bird migration]], flower blooming, and the growth of Rome that caused the Colosseum to become embedded within the modern city centre rather than on the outskirts of the ancient city, as well as deliberate transport of species, are also contributing causes. Another reason often given is their seeds being unwittingly transported either on the fur or in the feces of animals brought there from all corners of the empire.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Paul|title=Rome's Colosseum Was Once a Wild, Tangled Garden|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/12/romes-colosseum-garden/547535/|access-date=12 January 2018|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=5 December 2017}}</ref>