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MORISON, Robert (1620-1683). Plantarum umbelliferarum distributio nova, per tabulas cognationis et affiniatatis ex libro naturae observata & detecta [AND] Plantarum historiae universalis Oxoniensis. Oxford: Sheldonian Theater, 1672, 1680, 1699. 2 works in 3 parts in 2 volumes (16 x 10 4/8 inches). "Plantarum umbelliferarum.", one folding engraved plate showing the sexual parts of plants, 11 engraved plates of specimens, and 8 charts showing plant genealogies. "Plantarum historiae universalis Oxoniensis.", parts II and III, half-title to part III, vignette title-page, engraved portrait and 292 engraved botanical illustrations on 152 leaves. Not uniformly bound, but both volumes in contemporary calf: "Plantarum umbelliferarum." and part II of "Plantarum historiae universalis Oxoniensis." in speckled calf, spine in compartments, later gilt; part III of "Plantarum historiae universalis Oxoniensis." recased in paneled calf supplied from a smaller book (worn). Provenance: with the near contemporary ownership inscription of Wal: Innesii on the title-page of part III of Plantarum historiae universalis Oxoniensis; with the same early shelf-marks at the head of each title-page; from the library of Anita Peek Gilger, M.D., her sale, Christie's, New York, 14th October, 2003, lot 588 First editions, including parts II and III of Morison's "Plantarum historiae universalis Oxoniensis.", all that was published, the first volume of Morison's history of plants, projected to include descriptions of trees, was never published. In August 1660 Charles II "gave Morison the title of royal physician and professor of botany, with a notional stipend of £200 per annum. Morison seems to have lived in London throughout the 1660s and to have continued his work on the classification of plants, building on the publications of Andrea Cesalpino and of Caspar and John Bauhin.On 16 December 1669 Morison was elected professor of botany at the University of Oxford and on the following day he was incorporated as doctor of medicine from University College, where he had the strong support of a senior fellow, Obadiah Walker, also a delegate of the university press. He gave his first lecture on 2 September 1670 and transferred three days later to the physic garden, where he lectured at a table covered with plant specimens. Morison gave further lectures in such surroundings three times a week for five weeks, attracting a considerable audience. He repeated the lectures in May 1673 and in the following autumn, but was sometimes hindered from his intention of lecturing each spring and autumn thereafter by the demands created by the publication of his works. In 1675 he was a candidate for the Sedleian chair of natural philosophy. His lack of success on that occasion owed more to the electors' sense of the breadth of natural philosophy than to any doubts about Morison's ability as a herbalist. "It seems probable that Morison had been taken to Oxford primarily to advance the reputation of the university press through the publication of a grand herbal, organized according to his new principles of taxonomy. In 1672 he issued a specimen of this work from the Oxford press, Plantarum umbelliferarum distributio nova. This was dedicated to the duke of Ormond, the university's chancellor, and embellished with twelve plates, three of which were engraved at the expense of delegates of the press, the remainder being supported by prominent members of the university. Morison's system for classifying plants was displayed here for the first time, successfully isolating umbelliferous plants from others with similar forms of inflorescence. Following Cesalpino, whose work he had read, Morison argued that plants should primarily be distinguished by the single, key principle of differences in fruit and seed characteristics. He deployed vegetative characteristics for subsidiary taxonomic purposes only and argued that this method reflected the simplicity of the divine ordering of creation, as mani. N° de ref. del artículo 72lib1367
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