ENPages
(seq. 1)
9 Nov 1808
Paid [25?] cents 25 Stephen Elliot Esquire in Beauford S. {South} Carolina [faded postmark]
Single Sheet
Lancaster Nov. 9. 1808
Sir
Your pleasing letter arrived safe at Lancaster on the 18th of October last with the packet of plants for my inspection. I was sorry to hear of the death of one of your children and the necessity of your leaving our parts with haste.
When the packet arrived I was rather in a bad situation to look to any thing besides my own family. Mrs. Muhlenberg had just recovered from a severe spell of sickness when two of my children were seized by a dangerous nervous fever, which only since a few days begins to remit. My only time left was when in the night they were asleep. However I have looked over all the plants more then once and have added numbers to each and names as far as I was able. The packet is gone to Philadelphia in oil cloth and will be sent to Charleston or Savanna with the first vessel. It will be of great service if you continue the numbers in your future communications, we can refer to them easily. I took for myself some duplicates and here and there a fragment to examine closer when ever I have leisure. Michaux seems to me to have examined your parts closer then ours. Walter has gained likewise with me after seeing many of his plants.
A number of plants I did not venture to examine closer being unique it may be done at a future day, whenever you are pleased to send fresh specimens. Will it not be easier to take from your herbarium a plant, mark it with a number, put down the number in your journal and when I receive the plant numbered I can return the answer in a letter numb. 1. is — We run too much risk to loose a number of the plants and the sea might take part of our herbarium.
Whether I have hit the right name every where I don't know. I have given the names candidly as well as I could. You will oblige me extremely by criticizing and amending whatever you think wrong or dubious. By seeing only dried specimens we are apt to make many species where only a variety exists. Where ever you find the mark # you sent me a plant I had never seen before. To go astray with such plants is very easy.
Grasses are my particular favourites. Pray send as many more as you can find especially of Walters. Carices we have near to 50 with us. You have some with out doubt new to us, others are dubious untill more and better specimens are to be had.
Your Prunus 25. is different from all we have. Pray how is the Druparia? Walters Winter Plumb I would be glad to see. Prunus wants a monographer even after Michaux. Hedysarum 40 foliis subtus mollibus seems to be Claytons num. 190 sub viridifloro, much I wish for seed. Gentiana saporina L is the one figured in Catesby. The seeds show a difference, the real G. saporina has semina alata so numb. 70, a. but n. 71 your sapon. has semina minima nec alata. What seeds has 70, b. with white flowers?
I am anxious to have a specimen of your Salix 216. male and female flowers, and the grown leaves. Num. 224 is a very curious plant, new to me. To what class doth it belong. The seeds are exactly like Banksia in Gaertner, likewise similar to an Allionia. The specimen was so little that I did not venture to analyze it. Num. 219. has no. capsul. The description of Nolina comes nearest. 217. Galardiae I wish extremely to have seeds. Which of the Helenium of Walter is the Carolina Sneeze wort of which I have seen the powder used?
I have put by all duplicates of your plants not common with us and shall examine them very soon closer. If I discover anything new or any error in my names I will inform you.
Receive, my dear sir, my deep thanks for your kind communication of so many plants, my sincere wishes for your and your family health and give me leave to expect a constant correspondence with you, and now so remain with unalterable esteem and friendship Sir Your most obedient humble servant Henry Muhlenberg
(seq. 2)
List of S. [South] Carolina Plants 1. Polytrichum commune L b.c. Funaria hygrometrica d. Trichospornum [Trichosporon] pallidum e. Mnium pseudotriquetrum Hed. f. Gymnostrum pyriforme H. g. Neckera Sedutrix H. h. Polytrichum brachyphyllum M. i. Pterigynandrum julaceum 2. Hypnum b. Hypnum c. Pterigynandrum d. Lichen cocciferus e, Lichen floridus f, Lichen foliaceus S. alcicornis g, Lichen parasiticus ? h, Lichen fuscus Hoffman 3. Scirpus lacustris. L x # b, Scirpus marit. [maritimus] macros. M.x c, Dichromena leucocepha. [leucocephala] M.x d 4, Cyperus x b, Cyperus flavescens L x c, Scirpus capitatus L. x d, Scripus autumnalis L. x 5, a. Paspalum distichum L. x b. Paspalum virg. [virgatum] Walter nec L x 6, a. Briza eragrostis L. x b. Poa pilosa L x c. Andropogon nutans L x d. Poa flava L. [Lesbriodes?] M x 7, a. Panicum pubescens M. x b. Panicum crus galli [nudic?] x 8, a# Rotboella [Rottboellia] dimidiata. x b. Schoenius longirostris M x 9, a.b. Carex anceps? x c, Carex straminea x 10, a.# Carex lupulina ? x b.# Carex rostrata Wild.? x 11, a. Scleria caroliniana ? b, Juncus repens M. x 12, a. Polygala lutea L x b. Polygala corymbosa M. x 13. Pinkneya [Pinckneya] pubens M. x 14. Convolvulus repens M. x 15.x Lobelia b. Draco phalum [Dracophyllum?] incarnat. 16. Polygala pubescens, Var. x Senega Mich ? x 17.# Solidago 18. Galega villosa M. x 19. Oenothera lincaris M. x b, Rafnia perfoliata Wild. x +c. Podalyria uniflora ? x 20. Andromeda foliosiflora M. x b, A. [Andromeda] paniculata M. nec L. x 21, a. Nephrodium acrostoch. [acrostichoides] M. b, Nephrodium filix fem. [filix-femina] M. 22. Gnaphalium purpureum L. x 23.x Euphorbia polygonifolia ? x 24# Pontederi Lancifolia N.S. x 25# Prunus N S. x 26. Jatropha stimulosa M. 27. Cynanchum (non obliquum) 28. Conyza pycnost. [pycnostachya] M. x 29. Lupinus villosus Wild. x 30. a. Euonymus americanus L x b. Bacharis [Baccharis] halimifolia L x 31.x Liatris tomentosa M. x 32. Gerardia Afzelia M. x 33. Bumelia tenax ? x 34. Echites difformis Walt. x 35. a. Monotropa uniflora x b. Pyrola maculata x 36. Andromeda arborea x 38. Rhamnus carolin. [caroliniana] M. x 37. Hackelina [Hackelia?] S. [Senecio] Liatris elegans x 39.x Lobelia 40.x Hedysarum viridiflorum x 41. Hedysarum bractiosum M. x 42. Smilax tetragona Wild. x caduca L. x 43. Stellaria unifora W. x 44. Glycine monoica L x 45. Cistus cardinianus M x #b. carolinianus. M. x c. canadensis L x
46. Viola palmata 47. a. Viola Lanceolata b. V. primulifolia #c. V. villosa Sagillatas affin. d. V. obliqua nec cucullata. 48. Arum triphyllum L x 49. Laurus caroliniensis M x 50. Ammi capillaceum M x 51. Eupatorium fornix Walt Wild 52. Cistus ut supra 45 x 53. Aster Sparsiflorus ? M. x 54. Fraxinus platycarpa M. 55. Hedysarum marilandicum ? x 56. Hedysarum paniculatum L x 57.+ Sida. N S. (angustifolia, acutas, aff [affinis]) 58. Lobelia Kalmii var. x 59. Tussilago integrifolia M. 60. Andromeda axillaris M. x 61. Proserpinaca pectinata x b. Solidago 62# Asclepias x 63. Eupatorium rotundifolium x 64. Centaurea benedicta ? x 65. a. Rudbeckia hirta L x b. Silphium asteriscus L. x 66. Helianthus angustifolius ? x 67.# Cornus asperifolia M. x 68. Eriocaulon gnaphalodes M. x b, Eriocaulon villosum M. x 69. Hydrolea carolinana [carolina] M. 70, a.# Gentiana b. Gentiana 71. Gentiana saponaria Walt. nec L x 72. Smilax hastata Wild. x 73# Ranunculus x b. Ranunculus repens ? x 74. Inula graminifolia M x 75. Prinus [Prinos] ambiguus M. 76. Solidago retrorsa ? M. 77. Solidago rigida Walt. affin x 78. Hedysarum obtusum Wild. x 79. Asclepias verticillata L. x Urtica pumila L. Gaura angustifolia M. x 80. Andropogon alopec. [alopecuroides] L. x Vitis aestivalis M. 81. Cyperus Spathaceum, L. 82. Hedysarum nudiflorum L x 83.x Cynachum x 84. Stylosanthes elatior Wild. 85.x Asclepias debilis M. perrenis W. x 86. Amorpha herbacea x 87x Orchis quinquiseta M. b. Hypericum virgin. [virginicum] L. nex x Walter 88. Hypericum axillare M. petiol W nec L. x 89. Lactuca longifolia M. x 90. Veronica agrestis L. x 91. Solidago odora M. x 92.x Solidago 93. Kalmia hirsuta M x 94. Zornia tetraphylla M 95, a Rhexia glabella M x b. Rhexia mariana M x 96. Lycopus europs. [europaeus] M. miha americ. 97. Thalspi buursa passoris x. x 98. Liatris graminifolia Wild 99. Lechea maior [major] M. nec L 100. Aster coridifolius M. x 101. a. Syena Wild #b, Semina cf. Myriophyll. [Myriophyllum] 102. Nyssa aquatica S. [Selaginella] denticulata Wild x 103. a. Eupatorium glandulosum M. x b. Eupat. linearifolium M. x 104. Kuhnia Critonia Wild x 105.x Convolvulus obtusilobus M x 106.# Hyptis radiata Wild Clinopod. [Clinopodium] rugosum Walter 107, a Acalypha virg [virgata] x b. Helianthus angustifolius L x 108. Gerardia pedicular. [pedicularia] L x 109, a # Verbena NS ? (puntata) b. Verbena cf. Phryma Walter 110. Liatris Squarrosa Wild. x 111x Nn. cf. Galactia (pinnata) x 112. Crotalaria sagittalis (angustif) [angustifolia] x 113. Apocynum cannabinum L x 114. Rosa caroliniana L x 115. Scutellaria hyssopifolia L x 116. Vernonia angustifolia M x 117. a. Justicia pedunculosa M x # b. Hymeno pappus Scabios. [Hymenopappus scabiosaeus] x c. Persoonia M. Marshallia Schreber Lanceolata, Athanasia obovata Walter.
118. Ceanothus microphy. [microphyllus] M. x 119. x Podalyria at 19, b. 120. Ceanothus. 118 x b. Halesia x 121. Fothergilla alnifolia L x 122, a. Smyrnium cord. [cordifolium] Thapsia trifol [trifoliata] L. b. Smyrnium aureum L x 123. Comelina erecta L x 124. Scleria triglomerata M. x 125. Scirpus echinatus L. junior x 126. Scirpus ovatus Wild. 127. Dioscorea villosa L. x 128. Cornus alba L. x 128, b.+ Aster x 129, + a.b. Asteres x 130 + a.b. Aster 131. + Aster x 132 Aster linarifolius [linariifolius] L. x 133. Aster undulatus L. amplexicaulis M. x 134. Aster Sparsiflorus ut 53 x 135. Nyssa capitata Walt. candicans M x 136. Nyssa multiflora W. villosa M. x 137. Nasturtium Sophia ? x 138. Nyssa biflora W. aquatica L. x 139. Melothria pendulata L. x 140. Scleria caroliniana Wild x b. Carex hirsuta ? x c. Panicum x b. Cyperus flavescens x x Cyperus ns ? x 141. Cliforia virginiana x 142. Scirpus capitatus x Scripus autumnalis x Scripus Lacustris x 143x Panicum Scoparium M. x 144. Panicum sanguinale L. x 145. Festuca myurus L x Carex anceps Wild. Panicum ramulosum M x 146. Scirpus Spadiceus ? nisi ut 179 x puberulus 147. Panicum crus galli Var. mutica x 148. Panicum nitidum M ? x 149. Panicum nitidum M ? x b, Panicum pubescens M. x 150. Cenchrus tribuloides L. x b, Uniola martima M. x 151, a. Melica glabra M. x \ b. Scirpus ns. x 152, Aira mollis mihi, x Briza eragrostis L x Poa annua L x 153x Avena glumosa M. x 154. Poa flava L. Seslerioides W. x Poa hirsuta M. x 155. Schoenus glomeratus L. x Carex Muhlenbergi [muhlenbergii] Wild x 156. Cynosurus indicus L x 157. Alopecurus agrestis L. x 158. Uniola Spicata L. Festuca distichoph. [distichophylla] x 159. Stipa barbata M. x 160 Tripsacum dactyl. [dactyloides] L. x 161 Uniola gracilis M. x 162 Poa viridis mihi x 163 Phryma leptostachya L x 164. Carex — cf. oligocarpa ddebilis x 165. Leersia virginica Wild x x Scirpus lineatus ? M. x 166# Arundinaria macrospherma M. x Andropogon macrour. [macrourum] M x Cyperus Hydra M. x 167.x Paspalum x 168. Andropogon nutans L. x Panicum dactylon L x 169. Festuca myuros L. x Festuca tenella Wild x 170. Leersia oryzoides x 171. Aira mollis ut 152 x 172 Aristida Stricta M. x 173x Chloris monostachya M. x 174. Juncus effusus L. x Juncus aristulatus M. x 175. Sparganium ramosum x Carex conoidea ? x 176.x Chloris petraea M. x 177. Panicum nitidum ut 148 x Panicum — x 178. Carex crinita Wild x 179. Scirpus puberulus M. affinis n. 146.
180. Carices ut 9, a. b. c. x 181. Carices 10, a. b. x 182. Carex Stellulata Wid. x 183. Cyperus virens M. x 184.x Carex NS. x 185. Schoenus longirostris x Juncus repens x Scleria carol. [caroliniana] Wild hirsuta M. 186. Glycine Apios L. x Hypericum parviflorum Wild x Hypoxis fragm. 187. Tradescantia rosea M. Convolvulus trichos. [trichosanthes] M. x 188. Trifolium reflexum L. Panicum pubescens M. x 189. Panicum virgatum L. x Draba caroliniana x 190. Verbena Aubletia L x Galactia glabella M. x Galium circaezans M. x 191. Lindernia monticola M. L. x Aira obtusata M x Galium tinctorium L x 192. Polygala polygama Walt. x 193. Salvia urticifolia L 194. ⦻ Acer rubrum ? x 195. Arethusa verticillata x Wild Orchis clavellata M. x 196. Turnera cistoides x Ascyrum pumilum. x 197. Carex riparia Wild x Carex stipata Wild x 198x Chironia ⦻ Acer Sacharinum [saccharinum] Rhexia mariana var.? x 199. Carex folliculata L. x Potamogeton fluitans Wild x 200. Vaccinium myrsinites M. Pedicularis canadensis L x x Cakile maritima Wild 201. Convolvulus speciosus x Walt Croton maritimus Walt. x 202. Sparganium Simplex x # Aster. 203. Rhexia. x Ludwigia arcuata x S. Peduncat. [pedunculata?] Menyanthes trachysperma x M Gratiola quadridentata M x 204. Justicia pedunculosa M. x 205. Vaccinium frondosum L. nec M. Sed [Sedum] glaucum x Asclepias pedicellata x Walt. 206. Sophora tinctoria L. 207.x Lysimachia x heterophylla M. # Coreopsis Lanceolata M. x 208. Gratiola officinalis M. x Polygala incarnata L x Phlox pilosa M. x Phlox 209 Phlox subulata L x Chrysogonum virg. [virginianum] L x Psoralea melot. [melilotoides] M. x Euphorbia Ipecacuanhae? x 210. Geranium maculatum L x Hieracium venosum L x x Phlox 211. Duronicum acuale M. x Vicia caroliniana Walt. x Lobelia puberula 212# Astragalus glaber M. x Asarum canadense L x x Allium inodorum? x Phlox # Euphorbia pubentissima x M 213. Silene pensilv. [pensylvanica] M. Astragalus villosus M. x # Ranunculus hispidus? 214. Erigeron philadelphicus x M. 215. Veratrum luteum L. Helenium quadridentatum urmenetae Walter x 216. Buphthalmum helianth. [helianthoides] x Polygala lutea nana M. mihi viridescens vera. x Arboris NN. flores # Salix — flores masculi an incanae M ?
217. Batschia Gmelini [gmelinii] M. Cymbidium pulchellum Wild x # Gaillardia Lanceolata M. (Helen. [Helenium] aestivale Walter) # Gaillardia fimbriata [fimbriatum] (Helen. [Helenium] vernale Walter) x 218# Vicia NS? 219.x Nolina georg. [georgiana] M. Cichorium 220. Gnaphalium purpureum L. x Silphium asteriscus x Polypremum procumbens L x # Gratiola monnieri Walter x 221. Gratiola virginica L x Hypericum parviflorum x Wild Rubra Brownii M. Buchnera americana L 222. Galega hispidula M x Gratiola pilosa M x Galium puncticulosum M x 223. Phlox glaberrima ? Polygonum barbartum L. x 224# Nn. Semina Boerhavia 225. Thlaspi bursa pastoris x Rhamnus Carol. [caroliniana] ut Supra x Erigeron 226. Phryma leptoss. [leptostachya] L. x 227. Hypericum x # Asclepias? Aponcynum? Volut. [volutella?] X Varr. duae ____
Plants gathered in Penns. [Pennyslvania] and Jersey 1, Anthemis cotula L 2. Vernonia noveboracensis 3. Polygonum arifolium L 4. Ambrosia trifida L 5. Lobelia cardinalis L 6. Gnaphalium obtusifolium L. Trichostema dichotomum L Lobelia inflata L 7. Melampyrum americanum M. 8# Frutesc. [Frutseca] fol obuvatis NN. 9. Gentiana [Gentianopsis] crinita Wild 10. Erigeron heterophyllus Wild 11. Solidago flescicaulis L (vera) Iva frutescens 12. Aster ericoides L. verus 13. Eupatorium ageratoides L. 14. Aster umbellatus Aiton et Wild 1? Erigeron canadense. L 15. Cunila mariana L. 16. Solidago nemoralis ? 17. Buphthalmum helianth [helianthoides] vidis Thymus virg. [virginicus] L 18. Aster paniculatus ? 19. Arundo phragmites L 20. Aster amplexicaulis Wild — 21. idem 22. idem 23. Iva frutescens Aster 24. Aster pendulus Aster amplexic. [amplexicaulis] 20 Aster ericoides 12 Aster 20 25. Aster amplexic. [amplexicaulis] 20 26. Aster diffusus? Aster novae angliae 27. Aster undulatus Aiton nec. L Aster undulatus L. amplexic. M. [amplexicaulis] 28. Aster linarifolius [linariifolius] L 29. Lobelia inflata L 30. Aster 31. Aster puniceus L ad corifol. [cordifolius] 32. Solidago sempervirens L 33. Rudbeckia laciniata L 34. Aster ericoides ut 12 junior 35. Bidens frondosa L 36. Lobelia siphilitica 37. Cunila mariana Coreopsis imperfect coronat. [coronata]? 38. Alnus serrulata Gordonia Franklini [franklinii] 39. Aster cordifolius var. 31, b 40. Chenopodium Botrys 41. Aster ericoides L. et fragment. Asteris affin. misen. 42. Bidens frondosa L.
43. Erigeron canadense [canadensis] ut. 4. 44. Cuphea viscosa 45. Bidens chrysanth. [chrysanthemoides] M. 46. Aster 47. Antirrhinum Linaria.
Plants which I have seen for the first Time and of which I with a Specimen at least a better Specimen I mark + only a bad Specimen # never seen before
Whenever I get Time to put the speciemens kept back in my Herbarium, and to compare them close with others I will add Supplements to my Observations.
Should you be pleased to send me another packet, please to remember 1, Grasses!! 2, Fucus and Ulva from the Sea Shore 3. Quercus Catesbaei and some more in Dispute laurifolia 4. Carex — Ischaemum, Aegilops Apluda. Walter 5. Asclepias, Ophiorrhiza, Allionia, Heritiera, 6. Such as I have marked + #.
Any particular plant you desire from our parts shall be sent immediately to Charleston or Savanna if you are pleased to mention a Person to whom I can address the packet.
Mosses and Lichens are better put in paper by themselves, I shall be very happy to see and elucidate any of them. Unluckily very near all of our Lichens are still without a trivial Name
Farewell my dear sir. May you be blessed with health and prosperity is the sincere wish of sir
Your most obedient humble servant
Henry Muhlenberg.
(seq. 3)
5. Jany. 1809
Paid 25 Stephen Elliot PAID Esquire at Beauford S. {South} Carolina
[postmark] [LA]NCAR. P JAN 10 franco
Lancaster Jan. 5. 1809
Sir
It was at the latter end of October 1808 that I had the great pleasure to receive your excellent letter and the double paquet of dried specimens of Jersey and Carolina plants. My family was then in a poor state of health and my time so taken up with my patients that I could not examine the plants with the accuracy they deserved. However I did my best and sent them after adding the names Nov. 8 to Philadelphia, from whence they went with the ship Betsy to Charleston. The captain of the vessel promised to see them forwarded to Beauford with a safe opportunity. Nov. 9 I sent a letter with the mail from here with a copy of the names and other observations. whether the pacquet and my letter have safely come to hand, I have hitherto not heard. If you will please to mention a merchant in Charleston or Savanna to whom I could address a pacquet for you, perhaps our correspondence and intercourse would be more quick and safe. Any pacquet for me addressed to John Musser n. 146 Race Street Philadelphia without doubt will be forwarded to me with care.
After looking over the specimens kept back and the short descriptions I made of the unique plants I find very little to alter in the names n. 8 of the Jersey plants is Rhus cotinus. I suppose no native n. 73 a seems to be Ranunculus flammula Walter, humilis Persoon n. 199. very near our Carex folliculata, but the capsules much longer
I am sorry that a number of plants were single specimens. I did not venture to examine them closer for fear of destroying them, and beg you will be pleased to let me have them at a future day. I have marked in my former letter all such as I have not seen before or in bad specimens only. Should unfortunately that letter have miscarried, I will send immediately a copy of the names according to the numbers I have added to them in the pacquet. Pray do not withhold your corrections and doubt on my nomenclature.
You would add extremely to the obligations I owe you allready, if you would favour me with some of your living plants. If they are packed in moss they will come safe. I will mention the chief 1. a few cuttings or Salix 216, b. male and female early in spring 2. a root or seed of Paspalum districtum 5, a Rottboellia 8, a 3. a root of Prunus pubescens 25. 4. a root or seed of Astragalus glaber 212
Grasses have been my favourites since a long time whatever you have to spare of them will be very acceptable, especially Carices, of which you have many unknown in our parts. I wish to have every American grass alive and continue my experiments for agriculture. Only a few seeds of each will do.
Unluckily, I live at a great distance from the sea shore amd my herbarium contains hardly anything of the numerous American Fuci, Ulvae, Confervae How happy would I feel if you can let me partake of your sea-plants!
Neither Walter nor Michaux have described any Cryptogama worth mentioning. Your beginning from 1—11 shows that Carolina is not destitute of curious plants. If you wish to see what we have you are exceedingly wellcome to any thing we have here. The mosses of our state are very near all figured in Dillenius and Hedwig, therefore well known, the lichenes are less known and deserve close attention.
Since I had the sight of your specimens Walter and Michaux have pleased me more then ever. A few plants I miss still, which you will find in the lists I handed to you at Lancaster. Have you seen the Allionia?
The Quercus Catesbaei is still wanting in my herbarium, so some others of Walter and Michaux growing in Carolina. Whatever you have to spare of Quercus with the American names will be a great favour. The same I could say of Prunus and Crataegus but I have begged too much already. By
(seq. 4)
By the sickness of my family I was hindred to visit my botanical friends at Philadelphia last year much to my sorrow, perhaps I will have better luck this year. Mr. Lyons is I suppose now in your parts and I expect much from his good botanical lookout, and his industry. Should he happen to wait upon you, pray remember him of the many grasses you have in your parts.
I have kept an exact calendarium florae Lancasterinis ever since 1780, and would be glad to see a calendarium of your flora, to see the difference of our clime. If you have done the same I would be extremely glad to exchange these calendaria. A number of plants are common to our states and a comparison would be easy.
I will new repeat the names of the plants I have seen in your collections which were new to me and of which a specimen would be very pleasing 1, In the collection you brought to Lancaster 44 Aster fol. ovatis serr. floribus corymbosis radio caerulio 48 Thalictrum? palmatum from Mr. Kramsh in seed 96. Melanthium racemosum Mich. nb131. Silphium pumilum 146. Conyza amplexicaulis nb 155. Heretiera Michaux ?
2, in the last collection from Carolina 3 a Scirpus — macrostachys 4, a Cynerus 5, a b. Paspalum dissectum et affine 8, a Rottboellia dimidiata 10, a.b. Carices 15, a Lobelia 19, c. Podalyria uniflora 23. Euphorbia polyg? [polygona] and others 24. Pontederia lancifolia 25. Prunus pubescens — what fruit? 32. Gerardia azelia 40. Hedysarum 62. Asclepias — and others of Walter 70. Gentiana 87. Orchis quinqueseta 10[4?] b. Seeds unknown 111. Diad. [Diadelphia] galactia ? 117 b. Hymenopappus scab. [scabiosaeus] 128. Asteres 146. Scirpus puberulus Spadiceus ? 153. Avena glumosa 166. Arundinaria M. 173. Chloris monost. [monostachya] 200. Bunias s. [spinosa?] Cakile maritima 207. Coreopsis lanceol. [lanceolata] 212. Astragalus glaber nb 216. Salix. 219. Nolina nb 224. Boerhavia? punctata
Any of these or their seeds would be a valuable acquisition to my herbarium or garden. Pardon me if I ask too much. Any plant or seed from our parts is it your service.
I am anxious to hear whether my letters to you arrive. With great respect and gratitude I remain
Sir Your obedient humble servant Henry Muhlenberg
(seq. 5)
16: June 1809
[postmark] [L]ANCAR.P PAID 25 JUN Stephen Elliot Esquire at Supposed . Beaufort South Carolina franco
Lancaster June 16. 1809
Sir
I was extremely pleased to receive your letter by Mr. Lyons and to see that my letters with the packet containing your specimens had arrived safe. Once more receive my best thanks for your communication of so many valuable plants and your observations, the continuation of which I anxiously expect whenever you are at more leisure. Your 224 can not be the Fedia radiata. I wish to see a full specimen, the seeds are exactly a Borhavia [Boerhavia]. Your Quercus I have not seen before. My description would be so caule foliis petiolatis spithamis obtusi sinuatis lobis simplicibus plurimis lanceolatis seta terminatis subtus lauribus basi inaequalibus petiolo unciali cupula breve pedunculata, squamis — nuce ovata exerta cornuta. Figure nulla.
Immediately after the receipt of your letter, the latter end of April I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Lyons and his collection. He has been very industrious. He showed me his dried specimens which were this time but few, the living plants were more numerous but hardly any in flower. Amongst the former were Saxifraga leucanthemifolia, Cimicifuga palmata a very large palmated leaf like a plant you had from Mr. Kramsh numb. 48 which perhaps was only the top and therefore less; likewise anonymous to me cauli simplici alato foliis oppos. cordato ovatis integris membranaceus umbellis axillaribus pedunculatis oppositis 3 floris involucro diphyllo umbellis longiore, flowers not to be distinguished, grows at the head of the Catawba. What can this be? Likewise a small shrubby plant from Mr. Frazer caule procumbenta foliis parvis obovalis oppos. coriaceis petiolatis, capsula 3 valvi calicem superante, likewise an Argemone flore albo said to be distinct from mexicana; an Arabis or Cardamine siliqua tereli. Amongst the living plants he had the Thalia millingtoni, Your new shrub Diphylleia Michaux, Smilax pubera Mich. What riches you have in the southern states unknown to us!
At the same time I had the pleasure to see Mr. Hamiltons garden, Mr. Bartram's, Mr. Enslin's and Mr. McMahons. Mr. Hamilton begged me to enquire where you had found the Rhus cotinus, for which he has been looking very long in vain? It is your n 8 of Jersey plants. His garden looks well, he himself is, I fear, a going to the long home and then much trouble and expense are lost. Mr. Enslin cultivates a number of Georgia plants, some were new to me: an Urtica, a Rubus between hispidus and procumbens, Verbascum Claytoni floribus odoratis. Mr. McMahon has began a botanical garden and I expect very much from his industry. He has an excellent place for it near Philadelphia.
I finished my catalogue of the phanerogamick plants of N America, but it is not printed yet, because I wish to correct the sheets myself and we have no printer at Lancaster able to undertake the printing. Nothing will be lost, the manuscript is ready and by waiting a little a number of plants can be added. I am sure amongst your plants a great many are new and could be added if we could venture to analyze perhaps the unique specimens. Some of our states are hardly half examined.
Lately I received seeds and specimens from Cherokee, where Mrs Gembold botanizes. Amongst the specimens was a Hydrocotyle agreeing well with Michaux's vulgaris but I think very distinct from Linne's vulagris, it is folius orbiculatis pellatis, verticillis interruptis trifloris. Have you any such Hydrocotyle? The umbellata, americana, ficarioides, bipinnata Mühl, cymbalarifolia Mühl I have, but not the lineata.
I don't remember whether I mentioned to you a very pretty Gnaphalium of which D. Brickell sent me once a bad specimen, in habit like margaritaceum but floribus aureus luteo album comes very near to it in description. It is a native and in your neighbourhood?
In a long time I had no letter from the Doctor. I hope he is well. For botany he is very likely too old and cannot bear the fatigues of an excursion, however he has done a great deal in his time and I in particular am much indebted to him for good observations and a number of fine specimens. Pray remember me to him very affectionately. I have seen Mr. Melsheimer at Hannover, who speaks very highly of the pleasure he had in your visit and begs to be remembered to you. He is rather unwell.