Education
He graduated from the University of London in 1950 and was appointed to the staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1951, serving as a senior official there from 1966 to 1989.
He graduated from the University of London in 1950 and was appointed to the staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 1951, serving as a senior official there from 1966 to 1989.
He was an expert on spermatophytes, particularly Menispermaceae, and specialised in the plants of Southeast Asia. Forman was honoured with his eponymous species:
(Euphorbiaceae) Glochidion formanii Airy Shaw
(Lauraceae) Litsea formanii Kosterm. (Melastomataceae) Medinilla formanii Regalado
(Menispermaceae) Stephania formanii Kundu & South.Guha
(Menispermaceae) Tinospora formanii Udayan & Pradeep.