Discussion on the origin and relationship of the British flora

Professor Seward, in his introductory remarks, referred to the publication in 1899 of Mr. Clement Reid’s “Origin of the British Flora,” and spoke of the more recent researches of Mrs. Reid which have considerably extended our knowledge of British Tertiary floras. He drew attention to the striking contrast between the early Tertiary floras and the present plant population of Britain, and to the changes exhibited by successive floras in geographical relationship and in composition. He emphasized the importance of reconstructing the geological background as well as the botanical features of the series of floras preceding and subsequent to the Glacial period. Reference was made to the more controversial question of the effect of the Ice Age upon the plant-world, and he expressed the hope that the discussion would enable botanists to form a more definite opinion on the crucial problem of survival or extinction of flowering plants when the British area was exposed to the maximum invasion of ice. Professor Seward offered a hearty welcome to Dr. du Reitz of Uppsala, whose work on Scandinavian floras provided particularly important data having a direct bearing upon the history of the Pre-Glacial and Post-Glacial floras of Britain.