Elliott, Stephen, 1771-1830. Stephen Elliott papers, 1791- approximately 1947. Letters from Henry Muhlenberg to Stephen Elliott, 1810 July 2-1812 November 11. gra00020. Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Botany Libraries, Harvard University.

2. July 1810 Phanog: 201-238 Crpytog: 1-80.

Stephen Elliot Esq. [Esquire] Beaufort, S. Carolina

Lancaster Jul. 2. 1810

Dear Sir,

Your letter dated May 15. 1810 arrived safe with the packet Jun. 20. for which receive my best thanks. That you had but few well days this Spring gives me trouble and I sincerely wish you may have good health since. Excepting and old rheumatic complaint which hinders me from making great excursions I am well.

In my packets I have allways mentioned when ever the plant is no native by adding H for Hortus or C for Cicur , whenever you do not find a note to the plant it is understood to be a native at least of our state, commonly of our neighbourhood. I seldom find a foreign plant, as I think we will find work enough with our own. The Fumaria you had with a scapens is not yet described except it is the Spectabilis of Donn mentioned as growing in Canada with a red flower, or the formosa of Loddiges. In Philadelphia it is known by the name of rosea or carnea. I had it from Tenessee with a red and from NYork State with a white flower. It certainly is different from cucullaria.

I have looked over your numbers more then once. This time I must remain greatly in your debt. The Confervae are all strangers to me, as we have but little water near. Excepting the gelatinosa I do not remember any one of yours growing here. I have not specimens from other parts and though I have Dillen and some other works I could hitherto come to no certainty. I will be very much obliged to you for any observations you have made on their names. A few of your plants were without flowers as 230, 235, 238 and I missed your observations very much specially in plants not growing here. However I give you my opinion on each number expecting your doubts and amendments in a future letter.

[ Phaenogamous Plants 201 } both Carex scirpoidea Schkuhr 202 } 203. too imperfect — has it allways so few capsules? 204 Carex bullatae affinis et versicarae [vesicaria] sed distincta 205. Carex an curta Mich. virescenti affin. 206 Carex seems NS. villosa 207. Carex muhlenbergii Willd 208 Carex bromoides W. 209. Carex varia W 210 C. conoidea affin. 211. Carex too young, Habit of miliacea and strigosa 212 Carex straminea W 213. Carex scopariae affin. sed distincta 214. Carex — spica terminali semper androgyna 215. Carex verrucosa Schkuhr, flaccai affin. 216. Carex riparia 217. Scirpus mihi pendulus, if the older spikes become pendulous. 218. Avena palustris Mich. perhaps a variety of Aira pallens Schreber See N. 24. 219. Juncus, no caps. visible, near aristulatus Mich. 220. Rumex if different from N. 161. is it verticillatus, specimen too young 221. Rubus parvifolius Walter near briphyllos L. 222. Rubus uncertain near saxatilis 223. Crataegus parvifolia Wild. Xanthocarpos al. 224. Crataegus glandulosa Mich. nee Willd 225. Crataegus uncertain whether viridis or glandulosa W. 226. Crataegus apiifolia Mich.

227. Vaccinium frondosum Mich. nec L. 228 Trifolium not reflexcum L. near repens but specimen imperfect 229. Trifolium carolinianum Mich. 230. no flowers. 231. Erigeron — seems new stoloniferum if it generally has suckers. 232. Leontodon — Specimen too young. 233. Cymbidium Swartz odontorhizon — Ophrys corallorh. [corallorhiza] Smith 234. Podalyria alba. Am I right? 235. No flowers, habit of a Holosteum 236. Crataegus viridi et glandulosae aff. Compare my specimens. 237. Carex spathulata Mich. 238. Acer? no frutification.

Cryptogamous Plants 1—31. Confervae A ulvae reserved for closer investigation, very near all new to me. 28 and 29 seem gelatinosa x 32 Phascum next to nitido 33 Gymnostomum pyriforme Hedw. turbinatum Mich 34 id. smaller x 35 Weissia controversa Hedw. 36 Weissia microodonta Hedw x 37 Fissidens exilis H. 38 Pterigynandrum julaceum H. 39 Gymnostomum repens et Leskea adnata? 40 Neckera seductrix H. 41 Fissidens sciuroides — ripe Caps. wanting x 42 Polytrichum yuccafolium [yuccifolium] 43 Dicranum glaucum 44 Polytrichum brachyphyllum 45 Dicranum glaucum et Hypnum 46 Polytrichum undulatum 47 id. 48 Trichostomum pallidum 49 Var. T. p. 50 Var. T. p. x 51 Barbula humilis H. 52 ead. 53 ead. x 54 Hypnum microphyllo affin. et Barbula L 55 Trichostomum pallidum? 56 Funaria flavicans Mich. vix a hygrom. diss. 57 Barbula humilis x 58 } Funaria near Funaria Muhlenbergii H. a few more spec. would 59 }be agreeable 60 Neckera viticulosa et Hypnum x 61 Mnium pseudotriquetrum H. 62 Mnium pseudotriq. et Neckera seductrix

[right column] x 63 Mnium cespitosum? 64 id. 65 Fumaria var. major 56 x 66 Hypnum or Leskea variae affin. x 67 Webera nutans H. only leaves rather too broad 68 Hypnum reptili Mich. aff. x 69 Hypnum cupressiforme? 70 an idem? 71 Leskea an eadem cum 39? x 72 Hypnum adnatum? 73 Leskea adnata Mich? 74 [Fungerm?] annia 75 ead. et Pterigynandrum? 76 Pterigynandrum? 77 no frutification 78 Hypnum 79 Hypnum x 80 Hypnum delicatulum. ]

I have sent all our undetermined mosses to Swarz early in the spring. The vessel has arrived safe in Gottenburg, and I wait with anxiety for an answer to my letters. At the same time I sent him our Lichens. When ever some thing new turns up, you will have it. There is now a packet for me at Philadelphia, containing the Asteres known in Europeaan botanical gardens, sent by my correspondent Professor Sprengel, probably many of our dubious Asters may be amongst them.

The packet I send with this letter has numb. 201-300, from my herbarium. I have added the Filices a few excepted which grow here! The rest are chiefly shrubs and trees. Will you please to mention which of my plants do not grow in Carolina. If you have any other Filices, such would be extremely wellcome. Remember my best respects to Mrs. Elliot and believe me to be with unchangeable esteem.

Sir Your most obedient humble servant Henry Muhlenberg.

[Supplements to Numb 165. is not this instead of Doronicum, Helianthus atrorubens L? ]

27. Aug: 1810.

Stephen Elliott PAID Stephen Elliot Esq {Esquire} [postmark] at LANCAR. P Stephen Aug 27 Stephen Stephen Beaufort S. Carolina franco Stephen Elliott

Cal: simplex 8 phyl: foliol aequalibus ovalibus obtesis tomentosus

Stephen Stephen Stephen

Lancaster Aug. 27, 1810

Dear Sir

After a s sore spell of Rheumatism I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter dated June 29, 1810, for which I return you my sincere thanks. By Capt. Serrit I sent you a fresh packet containing numbers 201—300 all phanerogamous plants excepting our Filices which on account of their size I have added. As Captain Serrit has returned they have arrived at least at Charleston and I hope long before this at Beaufort. We have to compare still a great number of shrubs and trees, especially Salix, Smilax and Prunus. Of Adelia and Planera I have no specimen, the Quercus and Pinus of Walter I can not distinguish clearly. Any specimen of them with your observations will be very wellcome. The promised Asclepias incarnata, Plantago caroliniana, Polygonum hirsutum, Cleome pentaphylla Walter and all Gramina and Cyperaceae will be a pleasing acquisition to my herbarium.

[Your Carex 205 and 45 are certainly different, but still I would rather take 45 for triceps and 205 for curta Michaux not L. Perhaps I shall in a short time be more certain of it as I have written to Paris on Account of Michaux's Carices. His descriptions are too short.

Has 219 any leaves? Your specimen is rather young. Pray send another I have seen your Podalyria 119 o or 19, c. o. is that your bracteata — it would be a good name. 121. I have entered in my jounral as Solidago virgata not 17, o but 61. 17, o is according to my journal your 130 new, which grows very well in my garden from Georgia seeds and is no native with us. 141 is according to Smith the original undulatus L. not of Willdenow nor Aiton who named another one undulatus viz. the diversifolius Mich. Linne was not exact in adding his synonyms. It hardly differs from amplexicaulis Mich. and patens Aitoni. 142. Aster is certainly a NS. I have lately received the same from Mr. Sprengel at Halle by the name of Aster sphacelatus Willdenow described in his Enumeratio plantar. Horti Berol. I agree with you that Aster and Solidago are very superficially described and wonder to find so few in Michaux. Sprengel sent me 22 Asteres from the botanical garden at Halle all N American but very few of which I had seen before. My Aster cordifolius L. according to Smith n. 344. was named heterophyllus Willd. My Solidago flexicaulis L. according to Smith n. 360 caesia Aiton. Aster sparsiflorus Willd. I could not distinguish from cordifolius Michaux and foliolosus Aiton. my multiflorus. 165. Your specimen is too young and a unique. Pray compare Helianthus atrorubens. 199. Thymbra. I wish very much to have another specimen with flowers and frutification, which were lost in my specimen. Looking over my journal some queries arise which I propose to you Is your 76, o the same with your 126 new? Your 77 o the same with 131 N? What is your 101, b. o? What genus is your 111 o? 218 o Vicia what colour has the living corolla? Observations continued on your specimens

7. Salsota from Virginy seeds has caulem procumbentem in shady places. 13. Linnaeus has joined by mistake 2 different species under the name of Verbena nodiflora. 112 has been lately described by Sprengel under the name of Scirpus lupulinus, I would prefer cyperiformis. 116 is very near Scirpus argenteus according to the description 166 is this Physalis different from angulata Walter? I wish much to see the fruit. 235. The Stamina and pistilla are wanting. The habit is much of Arenaria rubra L. which grows in the Jersies.]

Your collection of Confervae gives me great pleasure, but all of them are still strangers to me. You have them living before your eyes — and can examine them at leisure. Any observation on their proper names from you will give me great pleasure.

Have you examined the Lichenes and Fungi of your neighborhood? Michaux has done very little, about 22 Lichenes. We have at Lancaster at least 124. I have sent all we have to Mess. Swartz and Acharius. The packet has arrived safe in Sweden and I anxiously expect an answer with the next vessels from there. Those described of Michaux I have only in part [viz velleus, pustulatus perforatus, pulmonarius, rangiferinus, floridus, the rest I have not.] Of Sphaeria we have a great number they are easy kept in paper and will not spoil. If you choose to see them I will send you such as I know for certain. I collect them during our winterseason when our phanerogamous plants go to rest.

Our botanical friends here are still alive. D. Barton was lately with me. He is now a publishing first volume of his flora from Monandria — Octandria, grasses excepted which he leaves untouched. By what I have seen in MS it will be a good work some rubbish excepted which he takes from old books out of date. He sent a young gentleman on his own expense to the North — and westward to collect plants who is not yet returned. Much is expected from him. I believe an excursion through the Jersies would give by far more.

Our friends W. Hamilton has been to the northward near Niagara to recover his health, but has returned much worse, having had a stroke of the palsy on his right side. There are but little hopes of his recovery. Mr. Lion has not been with me this year. Whether he made a southern excursion this year I don't know.

Has Mr. Wilson made his appearance in Carolina? I was much pleased with his company and sincerely wish him good success I have a botanical friend in Tenessee now at the Natchez, Mr. Henry Moore, who sends to his brother at Lancaster very instructive letters on the flora of Tenessee and Natchez. What a wide field is left for an America botanist. On my excursion this year I have found nothing new to me expect the Podostemum Mich. on rocks immersed in the Susquehanna, and a Silene nivea, having the habit of Saponaria.

In my garden a few plants have flowered from American seeds which I could add to my catalogue, Spergula arvensis L., Myosotis lappula, Verbascum claytoni (Celsia arcturus Brickel [Brickell] as suspected) Lythrum lineare, Triticum repens Silphium fol opp. serr. caule glabro from Cherokee NS? Hibiscus moscheutos, Iris fulva from Mississippi, Delphinium exaltatum, Aconitum uncinatum, Euphorbia lutescens, and some more. The Violae and Hedysara I have now near one another alive for closer observation. The one H. I sent you N. 100 is between canadense 96 and ciliare 93 but different of both. The canadense is the first that flowers with us. The length of the petiolus in comparison with a foliolum is a pretty good mark of distinctions and so the form of the lomentum. With Viola I look to the capsule and calix of the Aster — flowers. We have I believe 19 species of Viola in US. If you could gather the seeds of your peculiar Hedysara and spare them for me you would do me a particular favour and so with your Paspala which are (one excepted) strangers with us. I have sown 112 different seeds from Europe chiefly grass seeds quite lately and expect much pleasure in comparing them with our American grasses. How happy would I be to have some of your grasses in company [especially you numbers 25, 29, 31, 32, 33, 38. 40. 83. 84. 88 90. 91, 93. 96. 181. 183. 184. 185. 190.] each of which would be an ornament to my garden.

Soon I expect to see a packet from you or a letter. In the interim I remain with my best respects to Mrs. Elliot unchangeablly Sir Your most obedient servant and sincere friend Henry Muhlenberg

17. Dec. 1810

[postmark] LANCAR . P PAID 25 DEC [17] Stephen Elliott Esquire at Beaufort South Carolina

franco

Lancaster Dec. 17, 1810

Sir

Your letter of Oct. 13. and Nov. 5 would have been answered long before this but I expected to receive the promised packet first, which has hitherto not arrived. Probably Capt. Serrit may be bring it when he returns. I return you my best thanks for your persevering kindness.

If I understood you rightly you will be from home and at the seat of legislature Columbia for 6 months. Pray can I address a letter to you at Columbia or any other place from home or will Mrs. Elliot forward my letters to you where ever you are? And shall I have the pleasure to receive a letter from you though you are from home? Your letters are so pleasing and instructive to me, that I wish to have them from every place when ever you are at leisure and are note hindred by multiplicity of other business. Should you remain at Columbia till spring how pleasing would a catalogue and calendarium of Columbian plants be to me! We could then find exactly the difference of climate.

Since my last (which was dated Aug. 27 — what a long time!) I had some opportunities to enlarge my botanical researches. From Europe I have received an excellent new work Willdenowii enumeratio plantarum Horti regii Berloniensis, containing all the plants growing in the botanical garden there. I find among them a number on N American plants well described. With this Enumeratio I received the Dioecia and Polygamia Spec. Plantar. Should you not have this volume, your are exceedingly wellcome to it, as I had it allready. The Filices of Willd. are published but not yet come to hand.

Early in October I was in Philadelphia on a visit and added about 180 plants to my herbarium. Mr. Lyon has a noble collection chiefly of southern plants Mr. McMahon goes on very briskly, D. Barton has erected a small garden and green house near his dwelling, Mr. Enslin is almost gone and past recovery at a consumption. Mr. Hamilton very near the same with out much hope, and his botanical garden hastening to ruin. An excursion to the Jersies pleased me more then all most all the botanical gardens put together, there I saw nature, in the garden stiff art. Some time ago I received 100 seeds from Cherokee, and immediately after a letter from Olav Swarz in Sweden information that my packet to him with very near all our mosses and lichens had safely arrived and that after a careful examination an exact answer shall be returned. This answer I now anxiously expect.

We had here at Lancaster the first heavy frost Oct. 12, the first snow Nov. 1. The fall was rather wet, our rivers high and much damage was done to Indian corn, and potatoes, even now some are in the ground and under snow.

I am very much pleased that you have undertaken to write a flora of Carolina and Georgia. Do it my dear sir, you will do a very good and necessary work. Walter and Michaux have done and left much to do. Their descriptions are too short and many plants were not seen by them. Perhaps the best method would be to begin the full description in spring and describe the plants as they flower. Leave one page for every plant and go on untill one volume is finished then make an index to the volume and begin another. To this description add by degrees the seeds — root, use and soil. From these volumes are brought into as system with great ease, and much labour will be saved.

Your garden should contain the dubious plants, to have them near and get the habit of them which is of great service. Indeed our American plants ought more to be cultivated then foreign plants, they latter agree too little with our climate and are soon lost, our native plants stand longer and as for beauty are certainly not inferior to the foreign. What a noble sight would our Asters, Solidagines, Galar- diae [Gaillardia], Helianthi, Rudbeckiae, and Lobeliae, Tradescantiae and others be. If among them a foreigner appears let it be solitary, less the American plants are driven from their home.

Whatever I have of seeds native or imported you are wellcome to. Of Cryptogamia I have a great number and I will very soon make up a packet for you and so of other plants according as I conceive them necessary to ascertain the nomenclatur of our plants. One thing I much wish, do not forget to mention it whenever my plants are also natives of Carolina, I will do the same and then we can know the extent of our plants better. Hitherto I sent but few except I supposed them not growing with you. If my plants are not natives of Pennsylvania I add the particular habitat.

Looking over your plants again as I very often do, some observations occurred and some wishes arose which I mention, as dies diem docet —