104 
NOTES IN AN OLD HERBAL. 
May, 1892. 
NOTES IN AN OLD HERBAL. 
BY G. C. DRUCE, M.A. 
Recently a book lias been acquired by the Bodleian 
Library which contains many interesting records of plants 
growing in and about Oxford. The book is the well-known 
edition of “ Dodoen’s Herbal,” which was translated by Lyte, 
and published in the year 1619. The special point of 
interest is the MS. notes and drawings which it contains. 
They were evidently made by an Oxonian who must have 
visited Padua, since several references are made to plants 
growing there or elsewhere in Italy. The date of these notes 
is uncertain, and the name of the writer unknown. I suspect 
them to have been made by Wm. Browne, a Fellow of Mag¬ 
dalen, a well-known botanist, who, with Bobart and Stevens, 
compiled the catalogue of the Botanic Gardens in 1648. He 
contributed many plant records to How (author of “ Phyto- 
logia Britannica ”), and to Merrett (author of the “ Pinax ”). 
Assuming Browne to have been the writer, these notes of 
plant occurrences in Oxfordshire would precede many of 
Sibthorp’s records, made in 1794 in “ Flora Oxoniensis.” 
Possibly some clue to the writer may be discovered from a 
detailed list of the Oxford notes, which are as follows. That 
he belonged to Magdalen may be presumed from his alluding 
to “our grove ” and “ our cloisters.” Merton has no cloisters ; 
Christ Church and New College have no groves. 
Page 4.— Wormewood Romaine “ grows upon a wall at ye narrow 
turninge by Hart Hall.” Artemisia Absinthium , L., is not a 
native of this county, and only rarely appears in a semi-wild 
condition. 
9.— Bog's Tongue .—“ Gynoglossum. All along ye high waie goinge 
from St. Giles to Woolvercot, in Oxfordshire.” Cynoglossum 
officinale is now destroyed in this locality by building opera¬ 
tions. 
10.— Anthyllis. —“ Alsoe upon ye side of a hill halfe a mile beyond ye 
lower Hinksie hard by Mr. Tudball’s house.” Anthyllis Vul- 
neraria, which is not there now. 
17. — Butter Burre. —“It growes in a medow goinge to Aristotle’s 
well, and a flight shot from Madlin Bridge in a little close, by 
ye river side. ” Petasites vulgaris, now destroyed, although 
frequent enough still higher up the Cherwell Valley. 
18. — Bistort. —“In our Cloyster yard.” This refers to Polygonum 
Bistorta, L., a plant once of great repute as a medicinal agent, 
and hence frequently planted about monasteries in Britain. 
It is no longer to be found in the municipality, but occurs in 
many places in the county. 
20.— Paide's Betony. —“ The Male Veronica. In all such places about 
Oxford.” The description refers to Veronica officinalis, not to 
V. serpy Hi folia, which is generally called Paule’s Betony. 
“ The Female Veronica growes amongst corn almost everywhere,” 
refers apparently to Linaria spuria. 
