Christopher Wren's (1632-1723) plate

The plants on this plate all have long, thin fruits (with two or four chambers) and flowers that have four petals (although the top right plant has multiple petals). The plants are primarily willow-herbs, with their hairy seeds (e.g., left plant on bottom row), and primrose-willows.

This plate is sponsored by mathematician and astronomer Christopher Wren (1632-1723), the architect of the Sheldonian Theatre. Wren was a student at Wadham College with John Wilkins (1614-1672), became a fellow of All Souls in 1653 and then Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, London, in 1657. In 1661, Wren was elected Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford; during the rest of the decade Wren focused his work in Oxford. Wren was one of the Founder members of the Royal Society, and between 1681 and 1683, an energetic President of the Society.