ENPages
(seq. 6)
551 Juncus biflorus E. the name might lead to mistakes. Near to marginatus, but dubious 552 Oenthera hardly hybrida, Siliqua sessili, 553 a very curious plant not known to me, pray send a few seeds and some description 554 amd 152. Eupatorium hyssopifolium exactly according to Plukenets cited figure 555 Xanthium spinosum — also from Virg. 556 Smilax tamnoides E. is it more then variety of hastata? 557 a new plant of which I would be glad to see more in seed. Could it be a new species of Pyxidanthera (spathulata)? With out number an Aeschynomene or Sesbania near 71. macrocarpa. Compare if you please picta I had one alive but frost killed it before the fruit could be distinguished.]
You write of having received a number of specimens from Ds Boyken [Boykin] and Baldwin. I have received none although D Baldwin sent several packets , they all have miscarried by some unlucky accident. D. Baldwin has been kind enough to try again but I fear in vain. In his 2 last letters he has sent me a very valuable Calendarium of the plants found at the Flint River and in several parts of Georgia and has raised my curiosity by a number of new plants, of which the specimens were sent but lost. Probably you also have seen them.
As you are now at Charleston and near to a number of good books and the botanical garden? I wish you would inform me, what is the native Marygold in the garden there? it was mentioned by D Baldwin n. 719. Is his "n. 742 Donax Arundo near Donax a native? Have you Catesby or Plukenet in any of the public libraries? The latter has figured many southern plants which are not yet in the system.
I will now add something of what I have done since my last letter that you see how I have fared. I had a good winter free from Rheumatism but had to be- ware of every excursion. In January I received a small collection of Fuci from NYork, chiefly vesiculosus, nodosus and one in habit like rotundus but fronde compressa purpurascente corniculata — Also a few Conferves amongst them diaphana light. foot which you had sent before.
In February I had the pleasure to peruse the 7th volume of the Linnaean Transactions. The American Carices pleased me very much, C. ovata I have not seen C. [tennis?] is certainly flexuosa Schkuhr, C. intumescens I thinks is Elliot 1992, o. Xanthophysa Wahlenberg, nearer to Jolliculata then the next. C. folliculata Rudge is note exactly ours, but more a southern Carex I had from Mr. Enslin — Spica infima longitime pedunculata. Carex flexitis R. comes near to castanea Wahlenberg, I have one much like it now living from Cherokee, which wild flower this year C. gigantea is exactly Elliot 10, b. o. and seems to differ from Lupulina. In the same volume is a figure of Zizania aquatica on which I wish to have your opinion. The figure is good for our common fresh water Z. in the Susquahanna [Susquehanna] and Delaware, whihc agree exactly with Michaux's clavulosa. The figure of palustris done by Schreber and cited by Lambert does not represent our clavulosa How many Zizanias have you? Walter mentions 2. The midiana of Mx I have not, nor his fluitans. In the beginning of May I was in Philadelphia for a few days and had the pleasure to see my excellent French Zaccheus Collins, Mr. Lyon and his nursery, D Barton and with him the valuable works of Plukenet. Your last letter had not arrived but came after my return. Mr. Lyon has still an extensive collection. New to me were Asarum folio cordato acuminato coriaceo. Philadelphus 3 species 2 villous Heuchera several species, Calla (imported) aethiopica Spatha alba cucullata odora — have you none like it indigenous? Ilex myrtifolia Mx angustifolia he takes to be a variety of Dahoon, Rosa lucida formerly Cherokee in flower, he doubts whether it is indigenous. It differs much from the multiflora Japanica.
Plukenet pleased me much and figures many of our plants, exactly. I examined him in particular for our Smilaces, [ 110, 4. Smilax fol. lanceol. is not our herbacea, but more like Lanceolota 110, 3. --- fol. Sagett. we have not 110, 5. is Pseudo China L. Laurifolia Mx. and even Sarsaparilla Secundum Smith 110, 6. foliis cordatis venosis margine spinulosis fr. Bermuda unknown to me 111, 1. fol. cordatis hispidis caule angulata, bona nox I know not 111 2. Spinosa foliis ovatis acutis. Uncertain 111 3. foliis lanc. venos. hastatis spinulosis exactly hastata Willd. we have named 225, 4. Seems to me more peduncularis then herbacea Willd.]
D. Barton is in good health. He mentions that another American genus belonging to Icosandria is named after him, 4 species were discovered on the rocky mountains in western America. His herbarium was not to be seen. Rain continuing all the time in which I was in Philadelphia, no opportunity offered to see Mr. Mc Mahon's garden. Mr. Corraea was absent at Washington.
My garden contains a number of plants wanting a closer examination. A new Glechoma cordifolia is not yet in flower. Plantago kentuckensis Mx has flowered, interrupta or sparsiflora will flower soon, a Dodecatheon cor. alba from Cherokee pleased me much, it is hardly more then a variety of D. meadia.
I have nothing more to add but my best wishes for your health and prosperity, and remain in expectation of hearing soon from you again.
Sir Your most obedient humble servant Henry Muhlenberg
(seq. 7)
20th July 1813
[postmark] LANCAR. P JUL 21 PAID Stephen Elliott Esq {Esquire} at Charleston franco S. Carolina
Lancaster July 20, 1813
Dear Sir
The last letter I had the pleasure to receive from you was dated Beaufort April 20 full three months. It arrived from 11th day of May, and was answered in a letter dated May 17 following addressed to you at Charleston S. Carolina. In this letter as far as I can remember I sent for the second time my observations on your numbers 515 to 557, with a number of usual queries and desiderata.
Has this letter miscarried also? or has multiplicity of business interrupted the correspondence so pleasing to me? With our mutural friend D. Baldwin I had better luck. The letter I sent to him on the same day has been answered and several more. I also had two letters since that time from Mr. Oemler with seeds which have with 2 exceptions vegetated and probably will flower this year. Cleome pentaphylla is now in flower and another plant a Syngenist which I do not know is just a beginning — radio 5 phyllo 3 fido albo subtus rubello fem. disco int. hermaphr. lut. Cal. simplex — folii opp. or at serr (Urticae pumilae). The seed came up with out being mentioned in the letter and I do not venture to analyze the solitary young flower. May it be a native or some imported weed? Galingsogea [Galinsoga?] agrees best I wait to see the plants in flower before I send an answer to Mr. Oemler. D. Baldwins specimens have partly arrived and were very valuable to me. Several I had not seen in your collections. I will mention his numbers new to me? probably you have seen and can easily get the specimens from him if you mention the number to him, viz [ 809 Parmelia his viridis 802 Fuligo cinnabarina 838 Astragalus villoso affin. 930. Crow Poison 833. Oenothera (from entosa) 914-917. Carices 866. Milium? or Panicum 926. Sarracenia minor? and variol. [variolaris] 927 Frutex habita Corni v. Adeliae 939. Dalibarda (lobate) 964. Prunus occidentali affin. foliis integris — is this native? 960. Vaccinium (hirsutum) 976. Viola. (trifoliata) 994 Diodia or Spermacoce 1004. Ludwigia (pumila) 1015. Hypnum spiniforme Hedw 1026. Prenanthes (graminifolia ligulis purpur) 1027. Rumex fol hast. valvul. membranus., reticul. integr. different from a cetosella 1038. Vaginaria Pers. Fuirena scirpoidea Michaux ]
The specimens were rather imperfect, however having seen very many of them before I could distinguish the most. An exchange of specimens in these trouble some times will be exceedingly difficult except we take quite small ones or some cryptogamia which might be sent in a letter. However war will I hope not last long and we may exchange notes on the plants already exchanged between us or on new plants which we may have the luck to discover. I can not say that I have found anything new in my late excursions. I expect something from my garden towards fall from a number of seeds sown this spring.
My Catalogue of the phanerogamous plants is at last printed, and the 24 Class will be added before the catalogue is published. How long this will be I do not know, the printer is not to be got out of his slow step. When ever the whole is done I shall do myself the pleasure
(seq. 8)
of sending you a copy. You will find much to add, however a beginning must be made and a catalogue or flora portatilis is really a desideratum. I could now add a number of plants myself but will wait for observations of critical friends. D. Baldwin has sent me a calendarium of his flora from February to June 24. Amongst the plants mentioned he has several of which I would be glad to know more. I will mention the chief
[ Mart. 4. Helianthus? can it be Chrysogonum 23. Ornithogalum umbellatum, is this native? 31. Drosera foliis oblongis (pusilla) April 1. Portulaca flbr. luteis. — Salt marshes 11. Scleria smaller species 23. Schoenus corymbos Elliot, which of your numbers? 27. Juncus very large Maii 4. Clematis flore albo 9. Asclepias coccinea? Verbena caroliniana? The true one is missing among your numbers 10. Dichroma (latifolia) 29. Cynanchum angustifolium June 3. Asclepias flore viridi. Asclepias flore lilacino Centaurea? flore albo Centaurea? flore lilacino ]
He mentions also in his sletters a number of new plants discovered by your friend M. le Conte on which you are able to give your opinion [ Commelina abundant in rice fields Asclepias suaveolens Juglans anomala Epilobium. lineare and laevigatum Utricularia Utricularia setifolia " " " longirostris Utricularia personata Alexris ochroleuca, bullata, subglabosa different from aurea.
Amongst your own numbers I still have many adversaria. To say nothing of the Cryptogamia where many new species are not to be found in any book I have no certain name for No. 23, 47, 71, 128, 230, 273, 343, 375, 420, 442, 466, 483, 492? Have you given any name to them ?]
Of my Elliottia I have seen nothing more then you gave me. Mr. Lyon has the plant living but when I saw it with him it was quite small and nothing to be distinguished. The fruit I have never seen. Pray make enquiry. How glad would I be to have the plant living in my garden!
From Europe I have nothing new. Of Mr. Hamiltons decease you have heard long ago. His garden is a wilderness and lost. Mr. Lyon and Mc Mahon continue in planting, Mr. Z. Collins at Philadelphia still is an indefatigable correspondent. When shall I have the pleasure to see a letter from you? I remain with unchangeable respect Sir Your most obedient humble servant Henry Muhlenberg
P.S. Have you the enclosed Lathyrus myrtifolia in Carolina?
(seq. 9)
25. Aug : 1813
[postmark] 25 LANCAR.P PAID Aug 27 Stephen Elliott Esq {Esquire} Charleston franco South Carolina
Lancaster Aug 25, 1813
Dear Sir
I was extremely happy in receiving your last letter dated August 1, and would have answered it immediately, but was hindered by constant business and company.
From Mr. Baldwin I had also a letter with a few specimens and a promise of more by a Lieutenant of the Marines coming our way. His Prunus new to me is not P. caroliniana fol. coriacies serr, but one foliis coriaceis integerrimis inter dum emarginatis floribus racemosis. For your observations on some of your former specimens I thank you sincerely. You have the living plants and can judge best. I would be very glad to receive the seeds of such dubious plants particularly [553, 557, 88, 90, 98, 128, 190, 199, 206, 229, 230, 300, 375, 435, 495, 550, which all have a nb in my journal]
Mr. Oemler sent me several seeds from his garden without mentioning whether they are native or imported. Hibiscus diversifolius and Galinsoga parviflora Cleome pentaphylla, Argemone fl. albo are now in flower, are those native?
My catalogue is now printed except the preface. I am sorry that D Baldwins and several other plants came too late to be inserted. I will have a pretty clever supplement to add when I have leisure to examine my imperfect specimens and several packets I had since from other parts. My correspondents I hope will inform me where I have been wrong.
If I knew the exact time when your friends will pass through Philadelphia to the south ward a packet should be ready at Mr. Mussers n 146 Racestreet. At any rate I will before long have one there ready for you if any opportunity happens.
Since my last I have heard that a man Broadberry [Bradbury] has returned to NYork from a great excursion on the Missouri (above 1800 miles they say) with and excellent collection of minerals and plants. How true my information is I do not know when the western parts of N America are once explored what a large flora will we then have!
In D. Baldwin's Calendarium of July 1813 I find a plant mentioned (sub July 29) "a singular plant in salt marshes employed as pickle called Samphire" probably he sent the same to you, may it be your numb. 47 in habit like Ephedra?
The weather has been all Jul. and August extremely hot so that I could make but few excursions, a few additions to my herbarium were made by the kindness of my excellent friend Zaccheus Collins who is indefatigable in exploring the Jersies and the lower parts of Pennsylvania and sends me whatever he thinks new. He is now at the seashore and promises to look for my greatest desiderata Fucus and Conferva. Have you no books on the Fucus in your publick libraries at Charleston? In all the publick libraries at Philadelphia there is not one on the Fucus with figures! The unhappy war hinders me from getting books or specimens from Europe. In the mean time I will try to collect from our own parts whatever I can get. My friend D Barton would not let me see any of his specimens "they were too much in disorder and not fit to be seen" ———— Have you any new ones, not sent already, at Charleston?
When I make up a new packet for you I will do myself the pleasure of writing a longer letter, this is only to acknowledge that I have received your last. I remain with great esteem Sir Your most obedient Henry Muhlenberg
