Asa Gray correspondence files of the Gray Herbarium, 1838-1892 (inclusive). Correspondence with George Engelmann, 1840-1856. Botany Libraries, Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Mass.

Arrivd by M.

St Louis June 25th 1841

My Dear Doctor,

I send you by Mr Ch {Charles} Rust who is going from here to Germany, and passes through your city, a parcel of plants, with a few notes which you will find in the package. — Part of the plants — with labels of gray paper, my name printed on you may keep yourself or give them to the gentlemen, who will favor me with custom plants — Next winter I shall send them more — Now I have no time. — The other specimens with other labels I have only once I should not like to part with them; I shall be obliged to you if you would send them back when you have an opport- unity. — More by the next occaison Any notes and remarks about my plants will be very thankfully received. In haste!

Truly yours, Geoge Engelmann

Please to send for the pacel to Mr Ch. Rust — Astor house New York

Parcel at Astor H.

[postmark] [NEW] YORK JUL 10

Dr A Gray Care of Dr J. Torrey 30 McDougal Street with a package of plants, New York

Should Mr Rust have left a small parcel with you (addressed to Dr Gray) you'll please deliver the same to the bearer St Louis 23d Aug 1841 Mssrs Ölrich & Krüger, Ad. Muir Co NYC.

My dear Doctor

With great concern I learnt by your recent letter that the parcel of plants, which I sent you, has not arrived. Mr Rust staid only a day or two in New York and may have forgotten the parcel altogether and taken it along to Bremen; or he may have left it in the Astor house satisfied that you would call for it and that is the most probable, or he may have left it with Mssrs Ölrich & Krüger, Broadstreet, in which case I send you an order for them. I have written to him to learn from him, what he may have done with it. I am sorry to give you so much trouble, and sorry too, if the plants should be lost. Perhaps you would do well to enquire in the Astor house again if Mssrs O & K should not have it. I know from my own experience that things left in the Astor house are very difficult to find or obtain and a great deal of energy and perseverence may be necessary; it would be well to ransack all their places where they stow away baggage. There is in the smoking room (N.E corner of the building) a large case or wardrobe or something like that, where you may possibly find it. — Have you got a few

lines from me through Mr Kimm; if not please to enquire at Mr E Poppe's Pearl street No. 92. He will charge himself with any thing which you may have to send to me. Please to give him all the numbers of your work, for me, and get the payment ($7.50?) from him. I wish to send it to a friend in Texas: give him a bound copy if you have got one. You will oblige me if you will let me know what families you have before you; I will then look through mine, and always let you know, what to me appears to be new, doubtful or interesting — though I have no doubt, that most of it is not new to you.

Only one thing now — Yesterday I examined a plant common here, it is Croton ellipticus Nutt and accords to Mich. herbarium it is his. Cr. monanthogynus, which therefore can not be a variety of Cr. maritimus. But it is no Croton properly speaking. male flower : calyx 3 part. petal 3. Stam 3, 5 and 6 female flower : cal. 4-5 part. 2 carpella, 2 styles, 4 stigmata capsule 4 valves 1 seeded! Missouri; Illinois

and Arkansas — Tennessee (Michaux? — Croton elliptica is an older name given by Vahl to a Java plant. —

Is our very common plant, which I always considered Polygonum punctatum Elliott different from P. hydropiper? — Is the Polygonum mite Pers which grows only on muddy banks of our large lakes with Alisma rostratum (This has always 9 or 10 stamens) the same as the german P. mite Schrank — Is there no difference between the european lapathifol. and the large plant that grows in abundance in our cornfields — the habits is very different, leaves long lanceolate etc — I shall examine one family after another, as you get to them therefore let me know this. I wrote you with the plants some few notices; amongst the number about our Myosotis, the only one which we have here it is certainly different from all the german ones of which I have a complete set. It may be called M. deflexa, and grows here as well as — Texas, whether East?

More as soon as I hear from you truly yours G. Engelmann

Dr A Gray New York

[postmark] St. LOUIS 25— AUG 23 MO. Asa Gray MD care of Dr. Torrey 30 McDougal street New York

Poppe 92 Pearl St.

Wilson, Butler & Baldwin 25 S. Wm {William} St.