Elliott, Stephen, 1771-1830. Stephen Elliott papers, 1791- approximately 1947. Letters from Henry Muhlenberg to Stephen Elliott, 1812 December 1-1815. gra00020. Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Botany Libraries, Harvard University.

1. Dec. 1812 [postmark] LANCAR 25 DEC PAID 2 Stephen Elliott Esquire Beaufort franco S. Carolina

Lancaster Dec 1, 1812

Sir

Your long expected packet n. 515—557 was at last delivered to me a few days ago, and I hasten to thank you for it and to make some observations on the specimens although I would have seen rather before my two letters answered dated Oct 5 and Nov. 13, which I hope have come to your Hands before this. In those letters you will have found whatever I thought worthy of notice.

Your numbers in the last packet were: [515 C. [Cyperus] nearly allied to virens Michaux but distinct. It is your former 84. Willdenow describes one in his Enumeratio Horti reg. Berol. Vegetus and cites as Syn. glomeratus Walter. I have a garden specimen of this vegetus very like 515 only something larger. Is our plant also monandrus? 516. Melica speciosa Willd. not as large as with us. We have 2 cospecies the one foliis vaginisque pubscentibus the other glabris, the latter is more common in Cherokee. 517. Poa annua L. 518. Poa unlike all I have from Europe, probably glomerata Walter. 519. Poa flexuosa Willd. MS. the name must be changed because there is an already described flexuosa different. Our brevifolia praecox is much like it but 519 flowers late if my information is good. Habitat Virg. Car. Cherokee 520. Is it most more then a variety of the Briza eragrostis which has commonly more florets but is very like in all habit. It ought to be classed amongst the Poas. 521. [℈?] as 274. is I think polycephalus M. crassifolius certainly distinct from nodosus. We have one very much alike, which Willdenow named verticillatus but I have lost my marked specimens and am now in doubt. 522. [℈?] the specimen rather bad comes nearest to compestris. 523. Phalaris villosa M. specimen plainer then the former 359. 524. Galium cuspidatum Willd MS. triflorum Mx. 525. Ludwigia, pilosa Walt. vera it seems, his description is rather short. It grows also in the Jersies. 526. Menyanthes is it different from trachysperma Mich. 527. Vitis vulpina L. the specimen not clear to say whether cordifolia or rotundifolia Mich 528. Angelica hirsuta Willd Ms. triquinata Mich. In Herbar L. sub A. sylvestris — I allways took it for Walter F. villosa and Greenways Cicuta venenosa. 529. Oenanthe filiformis Walter. exactly. It has the seeds of Sium integer? rigidius L. and comes near to Sium filiforme L. in description. Has it allways simple leaves? 530. Cicuta maculata L. the root is poisonous. Is it also Ligustrum [atae?]ifolium Mich? Do you know Walters Cicuta perennans floribus luteis? 531. Chenopodium, uncertain, near to murale 532. Euphorbia ipecacuanhae L. 533. Euphorbia more paniculated then our corollata and others. 534. Clematis viorna. 535. Thymbra Walter very different from Thymus car. [carolinianus] Mich — The same as 535. It was the plant mentioned amongst Dr. Baldwins drawings n. 21. 536. Fumaria next to auroa Willd Enum — I have it also from Cherokee and Canada. 537. Hypercium. We have 2 cospecies one with foliis er. abbreviatis, the other foliis longioribus — Hitherto I took both for angulosum Mich. and Willd 538. Gerardia tenuifolia Vahl. I distinguish the 3 nearly allied spec. so: 1, pedunculo foliis breviore — purpurea L. foliis fascie 2, pedunculo foliis aequali — tenuifolia V. caule suffrutic. 3, pedunculo foliis longiore, erecta M. caule tenui paniculato. 539. Sonchus floridanus L. the variety with ovate simple leaves. 540. Lactuca longifolia Mich. seems to me different from our elongata tho this varies very much. 541. Lactuca. The specimen very poor hardly different from 540 542. probably 427, 324. pilosa Aiton, ciliata Walter cylindrica Mich. Am I right? Your specimen had white flowers. Was this from age? the gramini folii Willd has a stem not hairy 543. Conyza. 99. seems to me different from the Conyza camphorata (Erigeron L.). The latter is annual, your 543 probably ♃. and Conyza marilandica Mich, Bacharis foetida Walter. Your 543 I have from Columbia US. caule orgyali, the camphorata remains a small plant — pedalis, 544. Erigeron bellidifolius Willd. 545. — is it not your 151. After umbellatus Ait. amygd. Mich. cf. etiam Senecio ciliatus Walter

546. Boltonia different from our asteroides, which has fol. obtusiuscula integr — besides asteroides we have 2 much alike both have acum. margine denticulum pedunculus foliosos but one has squamas calicis lanc. the other obcordatas or obovatas. Yours is the middle one probably glossifolia, the third if really distinct might be namedaffinis. The dried specimen of the last shows nothing of , glaucous hue. 547. Is not this Silphium pumilum Mich. elongata Willd. as 464 in the collection of plants you had gathered on your journey to Lancaster 548. Quercus falcata Mich. elongata Willd. as 464 549. Spartina (Trachynotis M) polystachia [polystachya] — cynosuroides Schreber 550. Specimen imperfect is it a new Ludwigia or Oldenlandia? 551. Juncus NS. biflorus might mislead to conceive a small plant like biglumis it comes nearest to marginatus. Juncus is a very difficult genus and deserves close observation. Unluckily I am in want of specimens from abroad and some of your specimens were imperfect — 219 acutus? 273 tenuis L. bicornis? Strong varieties 274 crassifolius M. 276 marginatus? or 551 ?, 369 setaceus Wild filiformis Mich. 468 J. [Juncus] bufonius to 488 A. [Andropogon] bicornus varietas spicata. 552. Oenothera cannot be hybrida Mich which according to his description comes near to fruticosa — Your plant has Siliqua sessilis and belongs to the numerous varieties or cospecies of biennis and muricata and grandiflora Ait. 553. nb a very curious diadelphous plant different from any I know the puncta bring it near to Psoralea and Dalea but legumen is diffent. I wish very much to see it with riper seeds vessels. Any further information will be extremely wellcome. Where did you find it? X with out number a Sesbania — is it the same with the long seed vessel n. 71? I had one in my garden which flowered with out bringing seed caule 6-10 ped. florib. lat. from the Mississippi — I found none nearer then Sesbania picta Cavan. I had another which was also killed by the frost flor. purpur. by the seed vessel it seemed to be Aeschynomene platycarpa — large wide pod but only 2 seeds — this came from Washita. 554. exactly our Pensylvanian Eupatorium hyssopifolium growing on high and dry ridges, when cultivated in good ground the lower leaves are lineari lanc serr. I think therefore both are the same plant 555. Xanthium spinosum. I had it also from Columbia U.S. it perfects but very seldom seeds with us. 556. No Smilax which I have seen comes nearer to Catesby? Figure of Sm. tamnoides then this. But I think I have seen the same leaves on a plant of the Smilax hastata Willd, the bona nox Mich. Can it be a variety of hastata? If you can spare a little time pray inform me what is the real Cantac of the Indians? Bartram took it for the Smilax figured by Sloane and cited by Linnaeus as Pseudochina. This figure agrees exactly with a plant growing in the Jersies fol. lanc. coriaceis — which I sent twice to D Smith, once he returned it as S. laurifolia and once as Sarsaparilla L. How many real species of Smilax have you found? Has not Michaux too few and Walter too many? 557. New to me and very curious. The habit of a Herniaria. I wish to see more nb of the plant, my specimen being very small. No known genus agrees exactly I have marked it untill better informed as ?Pyxidanthera spatulata, nearly allied to Diapensia.] How many new genera and species may still be discovered if real botanists begin to look and look again for plants. Our common collectors look for ornamental plants and shrubs and so a great number of other plants are overlooked. My Elliottia I can not find in any new catalogue and I have nothing more of it since you gave me the first specimen. Have you seen it again and how have you found the fruit? Mr. Hamilton has began the printing of my Catalogue but goes on very slow- ly about 1/2 sheet every month. I have thought of adding the cryptogamous plants immediately as far as I am able to do it. Let others do the same then we may get by addition a catalogue of the whole.

The packet of Mr. Swarz has at last arrived — it has added a little to my collection, some grasses from Europe and the West Indies one or two Filices and a number of Jungermanniae.

I am anxious to hear whether D. Baldwin has returned safely to Savanna and delivered to Mr. Oemler his Algae? Nothing would please me better then to receive more southern plants but I am afraid sea intercourse is stopped — How I long to send you some of your desiderata! But

we can not force it. We will have the better time to consider the proper names of our plants hitherto exchanged. The death of Willdenow has been a great loss to American botany. He had been at Paris and had seen Michaux's herbarium and would have given the best explanation. But he is gone. Whether he has published the continuation of the cryptogamous plants — I do not know, I have seen only the Filices; who will finish the species I do likewise not know, perhaps Schrader in Göttingen or Persoon. In either case the Pensylvania musci and fungi will be described. I have sent to Schrader very near all the mosses and lichens, to Persoon all our smaller Fungi which can be sent. Have you found any new N American plants in the 2 and 3 volumes of Hort. Kewensis? I have only seen the first volume and do not intend to get the rest except they have a greater number of our plants. Walter pleases me every day better and I think his Flora should be reprinted with additions. By joining Walter and Clayton with Michaux our American flora will be respectable. Mr. Oemler sent me an imperfect specimen of a red flowering Collinsonia from Savanna, is this praecox or serotina Walter? The Ludwigia glandulosa in Walter I have reconsidered — am I right when I take his [ L. glandulosa for your N 395. (microcarpa Mich. not exactly) L. apetala for Isnardia palustris L. L. alternifolia for 396. or has he names this ramosissima macro carpa Mich. L. linearis " " N. 467 angustifolia Mich L. decurrens " " N. 108 jussiaeoides M. L. pilosa " " N. 525. not in ich. L arcuata " " pedunculosa Mich. L. rudis is for hirsuta Willd. mollis Mich n. 456 L. suffruticosa for capitata M. ] I have with out doubt tired you already with my long letter, have patience with an old friend who forgets himself and can find no end when he is in spirit with a man whom he esteems, and if you please let me have soon a friendly and long letter in return. I remain with unchangable respect Sir Your most obedient servant and sincere friend Henry Muhlenberg

14. Jan 1813

[postmark] [indecipherable] JAN 15 25 Stephen Elliott Esq {Esquire} Beaufort S. Carolina franco

Lancaster Jan 14, 1813

Dear Sir

Your letter dated Beaufort Dec 26, which arrived to day, has relieved me from a great deal of anxiety. I was afraid that either all my letters dated Oct 5, Nov. 13 and Dec 2 had mis carried or that some accident had happened. Thanks to Providence all is well and I anticipate the pleasure of a continued correspondence in this new year.

The packet sent by Capt. Serrit arrived immediately after my second letter was gone viz Nov 15. My observations on the plants n. 515-557 I sent to you Dec. 2. I have found no reason to change my opinion hitherto, only Willdenows name of 519 must be changed as we have a Poa flexuosa Smith, will autumnalis do? My information from Virginy and Cherokee is that it flowers late. Euphorbia 533 is sufficiently distinct from corollata might be named paniculata.

I regret extremely that our mutual exchange of dried specimens becomes so precarious and we dare hardly venture to continue it. My sincere wish is that we may soon have a good and honourable peace. In the mean time we may continue our correspondence on shore by the mail and try to clear the many doubts we have respecting our exchanged plants. I still want much information respecting your Numbers 47, 83, 98, 128, 230, 375, 435, 550, 553.

Mr. Le Conte from NYork had made some hopes that we should see him in company of D Eddy at Lancaster, but we were disappointed and he went to Georgia. Did you meet him there? Is it he or his brother who is said to have a general collection of Aster according to Dunns Catalogue? You are richer in the genus to the south ward, and I wish you will give me in a future letter the names you now give to each of your numbers. Does the new edition of Aitons H.K. [Hortus Kewensis] vol 3 contain the Asters and Solidagenes? I have only the first volume.

Have you seen nothing since of my Elliottia, is it always octandrous and how is the fruit? My catalogue goes very slow, the five first classes to the Umbellatas are printed from Nov 1811 untill now, and all my begging and driving is of now use. D. Bartons brother is the corrector of Hamilton the printer and I almost suspect that may be the reason of the slowness — Perhaps you will be able to give me an exact generical description of the Elliottia in time, to add it at the proper place

I had not the happiness to see D Baldwin when he was last at Philadelphia. He informed me in his letter that he was to depart immediately on his return and so I did not go to see him. The specimens he had sent on board of a vessel for me remained at St. Marks and I have nothing I would be very much obliged to you if you would communicate the numbers of the new plants with your Opinion on them.

By the papers I learn that the Hetty on which D. Baldwin took his passage is safely arrived at Savanna Dec. 28. I retuned Mr. Oemlers fine collecting of algae to him by the Doctor after having it only a few days in possession. How I long to have a similar collection of American algae! But my excursions never extend to the seashore and I never could persuade a northern correspondent to look after such trifles although living in sight of the sea. What I have and look over often with pleasure I owe to your kindness. In all the libraries of Philadelphia even of the Philosophical and Linnaean Society there is not an author on Fucus with figures!! Have you come to any certainty respecting the different species of Fucus you sent to me — is your n. 8 and 9 purpurcus Gmelin and n. 22 gigartinus? was not able to give a specifical name to any for want of books. This Mr. Correa [Correia], I am sorry to add, intends to have us next June for Europe as our climate will not agree with his constitution, he is, in every respect amiable and full of knowledge and would be a great acquisition to our country, a little backward in communicating to others what he knows and trusts entirely to his memory with out making memoranda. This may do in younger years but hardly at his or my age. I wrote to the widow of Mr. Van der Schott and advised her to have a catalogue made of his books and collections or send them to me with a limited price and I promised her that I would try my best to recommend and sell the same Hitherto I have received no answer, probably the specimens will loose some of their value, the books I suppose are chiefly German and Latin.

I am very much obliged to you for communicating the names and numbers of the plants figured in Abbots Insects. I have seen them but only with half a look at D. Bartons, he did not seem willing to let me have a copy of the names and numbers, however I put down from the 104, about 50 which I could remember without remembering the number. I had written twice to Mr. Oemler for a compleat copy of both, happily, you have anticipated my wishes and have my best thanks. Amongst those I put down there is but one wanting the Ammannia humilis, the rest I find in your letter. We agree almost in every plant 6 is certainly Asclepias tuberosa L not curass [curassavica]. Tilea 11 has on one tree folia pubescentia and argendea 19 Robinia I have seen a specimen from Kramsch which seems to differ from R [Robinia] pseudoacacia, viscosa and hispida I named it in MS rosea. Hedysarum 20 is neither Walters nor Willdenows paniculatum. Glycine 22 can this be tomentosa erecta Mich? the real reticulata Swarz is caule volubile according to Persoon. Vitis 28 agrees very well with our labrusca commonly called Foxgrape of which we have many varieties black white, green berries. Gaura 31. 99. biennis L. angustifolia M. I put down as 2 different species. 41. Vitis vulpina L. however when I sent our Vitis vulpina Smith answered a exactly vulpina L. probably he took both for one species Viburnum prunifolium 53 here also 2 species are mixed this is not our common prunifolium. Quercus 56 discolor wild Quercus 59 nana wild. Helianthus 64 divaricatus L. a bad name Anonym. 68 is the same shrub we have by the name of Lyonia. Willdenow names it in his Enumeratio horti regii Berol. Mylocarium ligustrinum. The figure is bad Bartram in his Travels mentions it p. 31. Seed vessel like Buck wheat. It grows in Georgia My specimen I had from D Brickell. Smith returned nT. 68 of Abbot as the plant which he then intended to name Walteriana — Populus 71, is exactly angulosa Michaux not angulata Willd. and hardly of Aiton Willdenow names the Poplar cultivated on the streets of Philadelphia (geminis resinosis foliis cordatis margine pubescentibus subtus candicantibus) angulata. Smith in one of his letters writes of Poplar I know nothing. There is a miserable uncertainty amongst the Botanists. When Michaux fil. publishes his figures I expect something certain. How many species of Populus have you? Hedysarum. 84. Linne had 2 species under one number for marilandicum 84 is ciliare of Willdenow, the true one is figured by Dillen. when ever I come to Philadelphia I will try to have a second sight of the figures.

Has Mr. Abbot continued his figures? and is he able to mention any particulars of his plants? By his vulgar names you may clear many of our doubts we are not as acquainted with those names.

Mr. Lyon I hear is lately returned to this country. He could give a good deal of information on many of our new especially southern plants which he exported to England, some are allready in Donns Catalogue. I hope to see him next May or hear from him by letter although he is very shy Kin is still alive, he insists that all his Vaccinia are really distinct species and is rather distinguished that I doubt of it. He complains bitterly that he is robbed whenever he makes excursions to any distant place, however he intends another journey to the southwards. I wish great success to him as he is poor and in difficulties.

Of your dubious plants in Catesby I know none for certain 92 Plumeria rubra is a Bahama plant 75 Bumelia salicifolia likewise 72 Cypripedium would come nearest to a caule but the description mentions folia cantina allerna, can it be parviflorum which I have never seen alive, 52 has the habitus of an Andromeda, 30 a Virginy plant unknown to me Habit of Laurus 28 Phaseolus unknown. The Pancratium carolinianum Catesb. is not amongst my specimens, mine is Spatha biflora mexicanum Mich.

Donn in his new Edition of Cambridge Plants has a number of N. American new species which I do not know by their present name. Can you explain them? Veronica romana, Houstonia divaricata, Pulmonaria mollis, Phlox pyramidalis, suffruticosa Celastrus bullatus, Viola pygmaea, Ampleopsis hirsuta, Gentiana fimbriata (crinita?) Viburnum alnifolium, Pancratium rotatum, Prinos lanceolatus, Vaccinium crassifolium Menzisia globularis, Laurus geniculata, aestivalis (2) Podalyria virginica, Cassia discolor. Lythrum triflorum. Mespilus prunifolia, Rosa serotina, stricta, Rubus purpureus Sarracenia adunca, Clematis pensylva [pensylvanica], cylindrica, triternata, Stachys intermedia. Thymus grandiflorus ♂, Scutellaria pubescens, serrata, Hibiscus incanus, Fumaria formosa, Dolichos miamensis (Glycine umbellata?) Trifolium involucratum, Hypericum pyramidatum, elatum, Inula glandulosa, Rudbeckia lobata, Silphium varians Quercus candida, Juglans minima, hispida, pubescens. Mimosa divaricata, Miamensis Corypha hystrix, minor. If you have sent some of them pray mention the numbers. I suppose many of them Mr. Lyon exported.

[right column] Since my last I had no opportunity to see anything new. Should I live and get time to visit my friends at Philadelpha I expect some acquisitions. Mr. Zaccheus Collins continues to be an excellent correspondent, much like our mutual friend D. Baldwin. If you write to him remember my best respects. I only wait to hear whether he has arrived at St. Marys, and then I will write a long letter full of enquiries. He is in an excellent situation to collect the many species of Fucus and Conferva unknown with us.

With sentiments of great respect and my best wishes for your health and a quick continuation of correspondence I remain dear Sir Your most obedient humble servant

Henry Muhlenberg

As you probably have not the Enumeratio plantarum horti regii botanici Berolinensis 1809 I will add Willdenows description

[Mylocaryum. Cal. 5 phyll. Cor 5 pet. Filament. medio dilatata subangulata. Stigma capitato — trigonum sessile. Nux quadrilata trilocularis

Mylocaryum ligustrinum. Rami teretes flavo-suscescentes. Folia alterna pollicaria v. Lesqui pollicaria. oblongo lanceolata, basi attenuata et breve petiolata apice angustata obtusa utrinque glabra subtus pallida. Racemus sesquipollicaris simplex terminalis. Flores albi. Facies plantae Andromedae vel potius Clethrae. Next to Andromeda. habitat at Georgia Americes ♄.]

17th May 1813 515 — 557

[postmark] LANCAR. P MAY PAID 25 Stephen Elliott Esq {Esquire} franco Charleston S. Carolina

Lancaster May, 17, 1813

My dear Sir

I am happy to see by your last letter dated April 20 last, that you are in good health and in a place of greater safety and where you find a new field for observations. I am much pleased with it as I was almost afraid of some accident. However I see that I have been also very backward in writing to you. My last letters to were dated Dec. 3. and Jan. 15.

That the former has miscarried I am sorry to hear, it was directed to Beaufort and contained among others my observations on your last packet, for which I again return my best thanks. As far as I can remember I will repeat what I have written in that letter. After deploring the want of any safe opportunity to send during those times a packet in return, I wished a speedy correspondence by land on the plants mutually exchanged as many are still dubious especially the Schoeni, Cyperi and Junci, of which I have unique specimens which I do not venture to analyse. I enquired about my Elliottia qualis fructus. Mr. Lyon has the plant living but in a very poor state, he says it is capsula like Azalea. Is he right? I wished to have your opinion on the Asters you have sent to me, whether you were certain of their specific names after more conversation with Mr. Le Conte and his brother who are said to have the greatest collection.

The names of your last plants I took to be according to a note in my journal [ 515 Cyperus laminatus E. 84. glomeratus Walter vegetus Willden. probably . 516 Melica (vaginis foliis q. pubescentibus) Variety? of my Speciosa, mutica Walter 517 Poa annua L 518 Poa glomerata Walter . 519 Poa flexuosa Willd. MS, because Smith has a flexuosa already I propose autumnalis. . 520 Briza eragrostis L. 521 Juncus gladiatus E. near subverticillatus 522 Juncus campestris 523 Phalaris (359) villosa? 524 Galium cuspidatum Willd MS. triflorum Mx. 525 Ludwigia pilosa 526 Menyanthes trachysperma (Sed minus Lacunosa) 527 Vitis 528 Fernla villosa Walt. Angelica triquinata Mx hirsuta Willd MS. 529 Oenanthe filiformis Walt. Linn teretifolium mihi 530 Cicuta maculata L. is it also Ligusticum actacifolium Mx ? 531 Chenopodium murale? 532 Euphorbia ipecacuanha 533 Euphorbia vix corollata magis paniculata 534 Clematis viorna 535 Thymbra caroliniana (199) Still dubious, Walters description differs. seeds wanting 536 Fumaria now Corydalis very near to aurea Willd 537 Hypericum angulosum and perhaps another 538 Gerardia tenuifolia foliis setaceris, pedunculis folio aequalibus, setacea Walter 539 Sonchus floridanus } 540 Lactuca (longifolia) } Specim. too imperfect 541 Lactuca (sagittifolia) } 542 Liatris 324. 427. ciliata or cylindirica, pilosa? 543 Conyza (Bacharis) [baccharis] foetida (99) 544 Erigeron bellidifolium Willd. 545 (and 151?) Aster umbellatus or cornifolius 546 Boltonia glassifolia. We have 3 spec. gl. aster. and one between 547 Silphium pumilum 548 Quercus falcata Mx — 549 Spartina polystachia [polystachya] 550 Ludwigia? Has it allways no Cor?