Asa Gray correspondence files of the Gray Herbarium, 1838-1892 (inclusive). Correspondence with George Engelmann, 1857-1884. Botany Libraries, Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, Mass.

again.

I suspect some other undescribed plants in that collection. An Actinella I have mentioned above. I include a fragment in the letter; as also a specimen of Antennaria. Is this {Antennaria} dimorpha Nutt? — A Senecio, scarcely a span high, almost glabrous seems to be very similar to a white — tomentose one, which may be {Senecio} canus, but with even the upper leaves entire or denticulate, were pinnatifid. You will get specimens of all of them; give me now your opinion, if you can form one from the fragments sent.

Lesquereux has sent the mosses.

Among Hayden's plants is certainly also Cirsium canescens Nutt, which as you suggest looks very much like {Cirsium} undulatum, but decurrent leaves. Another intersting acquisition is Lactuca ludoviciana, of which I send a head; a very distinct species! have you got hold of it since the publication of Flora, when you & Torrey considered it doubtful. —

I must run through your letters which lay before me unanswered.

So you think that I belong to the democratic party to use it for private purposes, you Yankee you, you take me for a trading politician. Fendler is interested on making Camphene here, has bought a lot out of town, built a little frame house. If he succeeds and makes money he probably will not go collecting again. He looks old and worn.

Shaw is unapproachable at present, has a breach of promise case on hand, damages laide at $100,000 — probably a swindle; still there must be some cause for it — so you see bachelors are not quite so independent and masters of their fortune as they may consider themselves. —

My brother has again sent seeds of which you shall have your share, he winters at Camp Floyd and will probably go to California next season. his plants of last summer will be sent to me to name. I shall have to ask your assistance.

I see very little of Fendler.

Thanks for Rafinesque's notice of "Nympheites" better that it is short!

St Louis Febr 25 1859 [and March 10 — ]

Dear Gray

Thanks for the information received from you about the paper makers.

We want 12 reams yellow paper (genera coers) and 24 reams white paper, for species, single sheets.

The genus covers to be 18 by 24 inches or folded 18 x 11 1/2 inches.

Shaw is laying the foundation of his library and museum (a la Kew) and herbarium now, it will be under roof probably latein the fall. Before that time the Herbarium can not be opened nor any attempt at arrangement be made. He is also very industrious in getting the preparation for his garden

[last page] as I find leisure from Hayden's plants I shall go at those two dioecious grasses again — but what name to give them, among the many proposed without knowledge of the years! The "Sesleria" has nothing to do with Crypsis or Munroa.

The Echinospermum of Lindheimer looks somewhat like a specimen of {Echinospermum} patulum I got from Siberia, (Ledebour) but does not agree with the dsecription in DC. — but there is a common one among Haydens plants (the most common one) with exactly like Lappula, but with only 1 series of aculei on fruit, which according to DC I would name {Echinospermum} patulum; that is perhaps Torrey's {Echinospermum} fremontii.

Who is the Rev. Curtis drowned from the burned steamer a few weeks ago? not our friend?

We are well and hope the same of you and Mrs Gray.

A letter from Braun tells me that his eldest daughters are to marry shortly. Prof Caspary now in Koenigsberg and {Georg H.} Mettenius of Leipzig . ever yours G. Engelmann

of 10 acres, arboretum besides.

The paper to be sent to Henry Shaw, St Louis Mo.; the manufacturer to draw on hiim as soon as shipped (by the cheapest way, probably New Orleans). When can it be sent?

The quality to be the same as yours, of which I took a pattern with me.

I suppose with the large quantity — some for yourself added to it — it will be done at reasonable rates.

Since I wrote you I have been occupied in examining Newberry's Euphorbia & Cacti. And in making a report on them. Among the latter nothing new, though fuller data flowers of some species heretofore only known without them etc

Among the Euphorbiae I was sorry to find two, heretofore unknown to me; and both not stipulatae but umbellatae; both unfortunately without seed, and both something intermediate between Esula with horned or lunate and Tithymalea with rounded glands! — They are so different from any other N. Americ. forms that I could not help but consider them distinct species.

Since then I have commenced again at Hayden's plants, but should like to get your notes about them, so that I need not pore perhaps for days over species which you know at a glance.

Benthams {Plantas Hartwegianas} I have not; and if you can give me a copy I should be much obliged for it.

Thanks for your notes about plants, grasses, etc; as soon

St Louis 5th April 1859

My dear Doctor

Thank you for the package which you took to the Prescott house and which Mr Hildebrandt safely delivered to me. It contained the Cacti we were looking for last August, without being able to find them. Many thanks for them.

Your remark about Seslaria is new to me. I have not {Ernst G.} Steudels {Synopsis plantarum glumacearum} but find the genus Anthephora (you spelled Antephora — but I suppose it is the same) in Kunth and Endlicher. If correctly described there, it can not include our plant, which is certainly not paniceous nor has it sterile flowers inferior to the fertile ones. It is nearly allied, as the male flowers indicate to chondrosium.

I wanted to consult you about the {Chenopodium} & Amaranth of Dr Hayden.

I find amongthe a shrub, with fleshy linear leaves, turning black. I know that it occurs in other, e.g. Fremonts collections; it may be the Chenopodium maritimum of some

[last page] and Tithymalus: — lobe glands of involucre incised or crenate but not horned.

I shall try to lay aside a specimen of Seslaria ♀ {female}.

Can you let me have a fragment of Anthephora elegans Schreb — or give me a sketch, rough copy of {Schreber} Gram. t. 44 & {Palisot de Beauvois} Agrost. t. 13 f. 8. — but it must be very different from our grass.

I did not find it on the same roots for the plant is dioiceous — but they ♂ {male} & ♀ {female} were mixed together and the roots, leaves, stolons are identical; — besides the evident alliance to chondrosium or Bouteloua.

Where is Steudels Anthephora axilliflora from ? — the name seems not very appropriate.

Give my respects to your ladies and tell Gray, if you see him, that I am not in right working time yet — hope gradually to get under way.

Yours very truly

G Engelmann

Write soon!

herbaria (Thurber?) but is certainly not the annual of the eastern & texan coast, known by that name. But this doubt is the least of it. The plant seems to have many interesting features.

All my specimens are female, with occasionally (not one in 500) a male flower. —

One form has single axillary flowers, bracted, in another one they are always ternate.

Stigmata 2, 3 or 4!

Seeds vertical or horizontal!! At first I thought the vertical seeds belonged to the single flowered the horizontal to the ternate flowered form, and both each belonged to different genera, Chenopodium and Suaeda. — Now I am inclined to think that the vertical seeds belong to the 2-gynous flowers, the horizontal ones to the 3 or 4 gynous ones. The specimens are too incomplete to describe this point.

It might be Salsola depressa of Pursh if that was not said to be annual. — You no doubt have and know the plant; — but I will include in this letter of fragment of both forms.

If horizontal and vertical seeds can occur in the same species, much confusion many changes would have to be made!

Among Hayden's plants is also a fragment of Schoberia {calceoliformis} evidently mistaken for the former, but well characterized. —

I have made arrangements for extra copies of my Cactaceae but have not heard any thing of them; nor do I know whether the corrections I have sent to Washington have been printed.

I am much pleased with your proposition to exchange copies and shall try to have yours sent to you from Washington direct as soon as I can dispose of them.

I should like to give up practice but doubt whether I can make a living in any other way; so I have to continue for a while yet.

I have done {Euphorbiae} & {Cactaceae} for Newberry — {Euphorbia} setiloba and numerous forms of {Euphorbia} polycarpa which ought to be named polymorpha are among the number; and, I am sorry to say, two new umbellate ones without fruit, apparently intermediate between Esula