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.

[faded postmark] [ST] LOUIS DEC 25

Single 33 Asa Gray MD. Care of Prof. Torrey 30 McDougal Street New York

Continuation of the letter to Dr. Gray E. The other species of Physalis, noted in Eaton I do not know, part of them are probably varieties of these 4 — I have neglected to examine them living but shall certainly find sufficient distinctive characters in the flowers next year — NB. In my last letter I mentioned another Polygonum from Nicollet's expedition with very long fruit — are these not abortive fruits, perhaps from an insect — and is the regular first not included with the perigonium? It may be nothing but ramosissimum?

Mr. Brownne sends me under the name of Nemopanthus canadensis the Laurus benzoin! His Hedyotis longifolia is hairy not smooth as you have it — but specimens fron Mr Carey are smooth. longifolia (probably the tenuifolia of Nuttall) I have from Arkansas and stenophylla from there and here. Our poinsous plant appears Nuttalls macrosepala, nearly or quite smooth. —

Let me soon learn from you — you owe me an answer to several letters I truly yours George Engelmann

St Louis Dec 14th 1841

My dear Doctor,

I just learn that there is now and probably is still by the time you get this letter a friend of mine in New York, on his way from Europe here — He may be the bearer of any thing you have for me and so much more so as he takes an interest himself in botany Mr. G. Schutze, druggist here. — You will hear from him and his whereabouts at Mssrs Nanning Koester & Co (the street & No I could not learn, [not in directory] but you will find it easy in a directory). If he should have left before this you can send me specimens per mail — if they are wrapped up in a big pamplet or newspaper (like your new world) and are not discovered of course nothing will be changed above paper postage — but if they find it, they will charge letter ports — so I was told here on the post office. — therefore try it! —

Here the heads of this Eupatorium, which may be Torrey's resinosum, if not a new one — corymb — the middle, long acuminate, without teeth upper leaves entire; glandulous? — I can say nothing about any of the plants [drawing]

from Berlin — may be that the Campanula is ludoviciana — perhaps the Cardamine is also C. ludoviciana. — Some times they make mistakes in these gardens — I found in Heidelberg a Heracleum called auritum there — said to have been from seed from me — and I never yet have found a Heracleum in the U. States! — Your pamphlet is most interesting to me; — I thank you greatly for it — Have you got the Cuscutas? I have written to Washington about them. How is it with Torrey's Cuscuta's — if I had only a few flowers of each specimen! —

Eupatori altisima [Eupatorium altissima] — Missouri & Arkansas. I have sent you with the plants last summer a strange from from the hot springs, Ark. very small and narrow leaves, perhaps different — the only specimen I had! Where may it be??

E. serotinum Missouri & Arkansas E. rotundifolium Arkansas, leaves supetiolate petioles 1/2 live long ! E. pubescens 5 flower heads! Arkansas E. album Arkansas E. sessilifolium Illinois & Missouri, rare,

That is all I believe what I have to say at present. —

Only a few days ago I wrote you a long letter.

Our Anychia dichotoma grows on margins of ponds, overflow places etc — A. capillacea has been collected by Mr Geyer in Norway in open dry sandy woods, under white oak.

The Marsilea I found in your paper — without fruit!! It may be identical with the Arkansas plant which has been described by A. Braun, of Carlsruhe as M. {Marsilea} uncinata, and is very different from M. vestita — I had seen the figure of that in Hooker works in Carlsruhe but neglected to examine or copy it then. The Marsilea from upper Missouri appears according to leaves identical with the Texan plant — and probably different from both Arkansas & Columbia plant — Would it be possible to obtain a small specimen (with a fruit) from Nuttall — Where did he find it??

Excuse my haste — The mail closes

Yours truly G Englemann

Single 25 [postmark] St LOUIS DEC 14 MO

Dr Asa Gray Care of Prof Torrey 30 McDougal street New York

St Louis Jan 8th 1842

My dear Doctor,

I sent you a short and hasty letter about 3 weeks ago respecting the sending of specimens in newspapers. I was in such a hurry, that I believe, I forgot to thank you for the very interesting paper you sent me, containing an account of your investigations in the southern Alleghanies. Your exposition of the Pycnanthemums I had no time yet to compare with my specimens and notes; but what you say about P. [Pycnanthemum] monardella struck me also when I examined Michaux herbarium. This brings me on Mr Rust and the unfortunate package he took with him, several southwestern Pycnanthemum and only specimens too, were in that parcel. — A few days ago he wrote here, that he had left the parcel in the Astor house, in his room, and that he would also write to New York to enquire himself, but I fear that any inquiry though a letter is far less efficacious than in search that you may again institute —— Since I have written you last, I have examined Prof Short's Cuscutas, and sure more which I was able to hunt up here and in this neighborhood. — I took occasion to reexamine all my specimens and those send by you, and am sorry to say, are forced to make again some alterations. This may argue not very favourably for the accuracy of my former observations, or for the distribution or stability of the species, which I propose. And it fact I have strong misgivings that Cuscuta saururi and carinata may prove nothing but varieties