FLORA OF OXFORDSHIRE. 377 
doubted if specifically distinct. Probably Ray was referring to EF. ovalis. 
Plot says that H. flore atro rubente (E. violacea) has small narrow leaves 
somewhat like palustris but growing thicker on the stalk, whereas those 
of latifolia montana are broad and much thinner, the one also flowering 
a full month before the other; and he further notices that our ‘latifolia’ 
has purple flowers as deep or deeper in colour than those of the Helle- 
borine flore atro rubente. 
The accidents or monstrosities of plants are next described, and then 
variegated specimens noted. An account is given of the white-berried 
Hawthorn at Bampton and the Glastonbury thorn at Rycote. The variety 
stricta of Ulmus suberosa is described, and then the various large and ex- 
traordinary trees are enumerated, Altogether Plot adds to our list 41 
plants, of which 12 or 13 were described for the first time as British plants. 
Robert Morison was born in 1630 at Aberdeen, and there received 
his education, which it was intended should fit him for the Church; but 
finding theology less to his taste than Physic he qualified himself for the 
latter profession. He was dangerously wounded in the shoulder at the 
battle of Brigg near Aberdeen, in which he fought for the Royal cause, 
and afterwards took refuge in Paris, where he applied himself to the study 
of anatomy, botany, and zoology. In 1648 he took the degree of M.D. at 
Angers. He was then appointed superintendent of the Duke of Orleans’ 
garden at Blois, which he held till the death of the Duke in 1660. While 
holding this appointment he published a new edition of the Hortus Blois- 
ensis. Being known to Charles the Second, he was invited by that monarch 
to England, and made King’s Physician, Professor of Botany, and super- 
intendent of the Royal Garden. In 1669 he made the acquaintance of 
the Dean of Christ Church, and other leading men of the University, 
and was by their interest made Professor of Botany. In 1670 he 
began lectures, but they were not given with regularity, his literary work 
interfering with his duties. As a specimen of the great work which he 
meditated under the name of Historia Plantarum Universalis Oxoniensis, 
Morison published in 1672 Plantarum Umbelliferarum Distributio nova, 
Oxon. fol. 1672. The Umbellifere are here divided into 9 orders, the 
genera of which are distinguished by the seed. Of these 150 are illus- 
trated. Not a single Oxford locality is quoted. This specimen work met 
with much approval, and Morison next brought out the Historia Univer- 
salis already alluded to. The first part was never printed; it exists in 
MSS. at Oxford!. Morison divided all herbaceous plants into 15 classes. 
The first five classes were published by Morison in 1680. The four 
succeeding classes were finished, and these with the remaining classes were 
completed and published, after an interval of 19 years, by Jacob Bobart, 
son, of the first keeper of the Gardens, and joint author with his father of 
the Garden Catalogue already mentioned. Morison had the advantage of 
powerful patronage, being liberally encouraged by the University, and 
1 Trimen and Dyer’s Flora of Middlesex. 
