RUSSIAN PLANTS 63 



observation, of the transmutation of one species into 

 another, in plants ; which though it have beene observed 

 of ancient times, as by Theophrastus^ de catts. plant, lib. ^. 

 cap. 6, whereas amongst others hee mentioneth the change 

 of Zaa Trpos tov ^po/iou, Spelt into oates : and by Virgill in 

 these verses ; 



Grandia saepe qidbus inafidavimus Hordea sulcis, 

 Infoelix Lolium, & steriles dominantur avenae. 



That is ; 

 In furrowes where great Barley we did sow. 

 Nothing but Darnel and poore Oats do grow ; 

 yet none that I have read have observed, that two severall 

 graines, perfect in each respect, did grow at any time in 

 one eare : the which I saw this yeare 1632, in an eare of 

 white Wheat, which was found by my very good Friend 

 Master lohn Goodyer, a man second to none in his In- 

 dustrie and searching of plants, nor in his iudgement or 

 knowledge of them. This eare of wheat was as large and 

 faire as most are, and about the middle thereof grew three 

 or foure perfect Oats in all respects : which being hard to 

 be found, I held very worthy of setting downe, for some 

 reasons not to be insisted upon in this place ' } 



The Goodyer crest, a partridge with a good ear of wheat 

 in its beak, is said to have been suggested by this excep- 

 tional find. 



Various lists of exotic plants and of foreign floras which 

 passed between correspondents abroad and their agents in 

 this country, show how eager botanists were at this period 

 to obtain accounts of the floras of foreign countries. Few 

 of these documents are dated, but one, a list of Russian 

 plants, was written in June of this year. At the end of 

 the list the writer adds : ' and many other which I know 

 not and are not to be found in my herball. I will have 

 their effigies drawne, and will hereafter send them you 

 with their leaves and Russe names and vertues. 



Mosco, 12 Junij 1632 Robert Tewe.' 



■^ Ger. eiiiac. 65. 



