ENPages
(seq. 1)
6 from wch it [grew?] -nother under it. ## Calyx — always of one divided into 5 acumi[nated]. patent segt — with Ciliat[e] parmanent) —
Augst 6th — No. 220 American Pride
Sengen. Simple — nearly like Withering's Cardinal flower, but can not be ye same
Calyx — Is a Cup, ?ing embracing? Bellshaped, very short containing ye recep= tical, forming a capsule in ye mostly on embracing ye capsule with 5 long narrow erect segt — Or perhaps the Calyx may be more properly — thus described — 5, very narrow, long, pointed erect Leaves, stand on rising with broad bases from ye margin of ye receptile of ye flower, which is also broad —
Corol. On petal — along cylindrical tubes, nearly cylindrical, divided on ye longitude
(seq. 2)
[iacious?] appendage [?] to 2 parts surrounding in ye limb — surround at ye joint where ye leaf ___________ [b?]ack side ye claw, a roundish [iacious & surrounding ye stalk, are two large roundish serrated pinna, forming ye appearance of a socket out of wh ye stalk round leaf through wh ye stalk passes. The pinna deeply serrated — much wrinkled from ye depression of ye veins very ruff to ye touch —
The leaf looks & is former much like that of a Turnip.
The stalk terminates in a long spike naked ? spike as do branches wh rise from ye axilla of ye leaves on wh The flowers stand on short pedicles at some distance from each other along ye stalk top of ye stalk — & the fruit is a kind of burr without one seed — ye flower is yellow not large — Grows by Wall Lem Browns Barn over river & frequent # Calyx — a leafy prop and ? ye
(seq. 3)
154 Dr. Fisher have not & growing — But think comes very near Withering round headed mint. —
Sept. 6th No. 300 — Round headed Silver Rod
Compound. C. Calyx — tiled, very small strap= shaped, acuminated leaves & rather open, ye upper & inner somewt ye longest —
C. Corol — very narrow strapshaped long reflected petals, but not many — generaly from 8 to 12 — Tube shorter yn tubes of ye disks & very small — female — styles of ye length of ye tube — Stigma bifid short [crocked?] or reflected —
Florets disks Hermoph Corol — Tubes cylind — divided 5 very deep segmt
Stam. 5 short filiform [Pelan?] anthere connected in cylind longer yn ye [tube [co?] [a?]
(seq. 4)
coral stigma, bifid, but highly divided as scarcely to be perceived.
It has not properly by a recepticle only wt is formed by ye very short stems of ye florets growing together
Seeds — 4 very small stand in ye bottoms of ye cup
Stalk Quadrangular, very short hairs erect, branches sent off in pairs from ye ala of ye leaves —
Leaves — ovate, very slightly & distantly serrated, stand in pairs covered with very fine short hairs laying all one way, full of very small pellucid spots. 2 inch long 1 inch broad. of a light green colours —
The flowers wh are numer= ous, tho^. but few in bloom at time are white, pink dotted [w]ith purple specks —
The stalks & branches nearly to ye same hight — [?] stand on ye top. This This branch brought one by Dr.
(seq. 5)
Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Feb. 9, 1791
Reverend Sir
A perfect Stranger begs Leave, to disturb You in Your judicious Circle and to seek Your Acquaintance by dropping a few Lines to You.
Not till a few Months ago I was favoured with the 1 volume of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences printed at Boston 1785. Amongst other valuabel Pieces I found Your Account of indigenous Vegetables botanically arranged, with which I was infinitely pleased, as this was the first work that gives a systematical Account of New England Plants.
Being a great Friend to Botany and having Studied it in my leisure Hours upwards of fourteen Years in Pennsylvania, I know the Difficulty of arranging the American Plants according to the Linnean System, and I was allways eager to hear of Some Gentleman engaged in Similar Researches, that by joining Hands we might do something towards enlarging American Botany. Something I have done in respect to my Neighborhood. In the Year 1786 I send to our Philosophical Society a Specimen florae Lancastriensis with a Calendarium florae and some (if I remember right 100) Observations on the Use of the Plants. Some Time since I sent the Second Specimen or an Index containing near 1100 Plants which grow in this Neighborhood.
This is the Reason why I intrude upon Your leisure Hours and crave for Your Acquaitance and Friendship. Perhaps it would not be disagreeable to You to spare me now and then some of Your dried Specimens in particular of such Plants that seem to be Non descripts or valuable in the Materia Medica or for Oeconomical Purposes. I am a particular Friend of Grasses and cultivate all native or foreign, that seem of any Value. One in particular has attracted my Notice which I cut in the middle of April or when the common Apple or the Mespitus canadensis blossom, it lasts the longest of any other Grass and will be a most valuable Acquisition to our Country. It is the Avena elatior Linnae or the true French Ray grass. If I could please You by sending any of Our Plants or Seeds, I offer my Services, only wish to know where to direct my Letters to. Any Answer You may please to return, can be directed to my Brother living at Philadelphia Frederick August Muhlenberg Esq present Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Once more I beg You to excuse the Freedom I take, and recommend myself to Your Friendship; remaining with great Esteem
Reverend Sir
Your most obedient humble Servant Henry Muhlenberg D.D. and Principal of Franklin College at Lancaster
P.S. Will You give me Leave to add a few Queries and Desiderata?