Elliott, Stephen, 1771-1830. Stephen Elliott papers, 1791- approximately 1947. Letters from James MacBride to Stephen Elliott 1812 October 7-1814 March 8. gra00020. Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Botany Libraries, Harvard University.

Pineville, Decr. 18th. 1812

Dear Sir,

Yesterday I had conveyed to the canal 3 boxes for you which I hope may reach Beaufort before you visit Georgia.

No. 4 contains several shrubs of the Ilex? mentioned in former communications. I find that the number of seeds in a berry are far from being constant as I once imagined. It blooms about the middle of May. Hab — dry, poor, pine lands———

No. 5. contains the Lilia in question. The sod near the end of the box notched 11 is the var 2 of Michx's L. Carolin. [Lilium carolinianum] mentioned in a letter written to you at Columbia last summer. This I suspect will prove Lil. [Lilium] canadense Willd. Hab. moist poor pine lands. The other sod contains Lil. carolin. Michx or L. [marta gon of Walt. —

Having committed myself by supposing these were var. of the same species I have attempted to make amends by observing more narrowly the features of specific difference—

Lilium carolinianum Michx. Lil. canadense? Petals — very much reflexed ———— Unguiculate Flowers — cernuous————— Nodding-looking horizontally Leaves — aboral — waving———— Linear — elliptic, even, trilinear Longish, slender, very acuminate surface — even—— Capsules } short, thick, very obtuse } or ob-pyramidal — each } suture having two very } prominent lines ———— } Obs — rarely reaches the height of 3—— Often 4 in St. Stephens — feet —— Flowers of ten 4 or 5 —— Seldom two —— Blooms about the 1st Augt — July 10th — 1812 in Stephens

Lilium carolinian. Michx. grows well in oak & hickory lands, the mould of which has a substratum of clay—— Found near the [declurtis?] of swamp rivulet so often in the highest situations —

Box No 6 contains some specimens from the calcareous stratum. The oyster shell enclosed is not more than half of the size of many I will point out— Where the Santa Canal touches the Eastern limit of the stratem 4 miles from Pine Ville oyster shells have been dug up in considerable quantities— I am sorry I could procure none of the Marl seen on grass—

Under neath there specimens are the leaves & fruit of a tree which I never met with until 3 days ago— It has excited my curiosity strongly It grows in a thicket or "bay" in the low stripe of land running thro' the lime-stone lands as mentioned in my sketch— It rises to a height of 20 or 30 feet is evergreen & of a conical form— On one tree only among 8 or 10 did I find fruit— Should you not recognize it from face inspection the following notices may assist.

Leaves—— Entire, oblanceolate, membranaceous, shining, paler underneath, opposite, the pairs some what decussating —

Fruit—— a monospermous drupe of a purple colour— a little greenish pulp — soft shell — kernal some what oily — pungent to the taste.

[To the fruit are the remains of the calyx— always 4 fid— with a sufficient space for a fifth tooth. which may have shrivelled.]

Shape elliptical or oval— the nut rather acuminate & covered with a purplish pigment. The fruit is borne in axillary racemes, opposite— seldom more than six drupes on a bunch—— The pedicells are thickish of opposite & furnished with opposite stipula=ceous scales———

The general appearance of the tree is some what that of a large Hopea tinctoria only more leafy— It also bears some resemblance to the *wild orange, red bay—&c. The bark smoothish—— I will thank you for the botanical name. I never saw an Olea can this be one?———

I wait with some impatience for the rest of the desiderata Walt.—— Also for your observations on my specimens— I have been giving the Gentiana a fair trial in a species of peripneumonia which often appears in this part of the country among slaves— This is a disease which will not bear depletion— You may see a history of it in Hosacks register for July last— I have ever had a high opinion of stone plants— [loss] Reef a tincture of the G. catesbai [Gentiana catesbaei] constantly— [loss] angustifolia is the most [in?] bitter [loss] 3 species but its root very small— The Saponaria rarely grows in abundance— The catesbai is the most pleasant bitter tho' not so strong as the others— The roots of this species numerous & the plant very abundant tho' shrivelling. The other two have solid roots—

I am Dear Sir, Yours with great regard J MacBride

18 Dec. 1812

[postmark] 12 1/2 CHAR 23

Stephen Elliott Esq— {Esquire} Beaufort S.C. {South Carolina} Mail —

St. Stephens' May 8th 1813

Dear Sir,

Yours of March 23rd I did not receive until yester =day. I am pleased to think you estimate my communications as of some importance. I have said enough to evince upon what grounds I advance in speaking of the medicinal properties of our indigenae. I might have filled a volume had I given credit to half of the popular tales I have heard on the subject. I will, however, willingly give attention to any such testimony as you may communicate.

I am satisfied the Eriogonum deserves atten=tion. I took some of the root dried & pulverized in 1807 & am disposed to believe it should exclude some foreign articles from the shop of the American physician. I shall delay saying any thing further until I can institute some decisive experiment. I never knew till lately that it grew in St. Stephen's else I should ere new have been qualified to speak of it in decided terms. It grows on some sandy ridges about 20 miles distant. I will visit it in July.

Erythrina herbacea was brought to my view as a medicinal plant in the following manner. I was desired in 1809 to visit a gentleman who had suffered long from that species of Rheumatism which is sometimes the consequence of syphilis. I employed all my resources as many others had done before to no purpose & drop =ped my attendance. I visited him a year afterwards on his return form the Catawba Springs & found him taking a decoction of the "Cherokee root" & he found relief in so much that he was induced to persevere. I know he was not decidedly relieved.

I hope to be enabled to make some additions to the medical list two of which I think really important. Of the effect of the G. [Gilia] ochroleuca I can say nothing, the specific ef=fect you mention I am persuaded is well & speedily produced by the infusion of Puccoon root in wine————————

The following of your planta desiderata have bloomed, Coreopsis auriculata March 8th (thermometer at 84°); Adelia acuminata? present time; Planera gmelini, March 1; Veratrum parviflorum April 17th; Fedia radiata seu Valeriana locusta Walteri April 26; Plantago sparsiflora March 20th; Salix longirostris Feb. 25. I found the female; Allium canadense March 8 Thalictrum laevigatum April 23; Hyoseris angustifolia April 3; Sparganophorus verticillatus present time; Gnaphalium dioicum Feby. 29, Helonias angustifolia April 25. Veronica noveboracensis, Chelone glabra, Anemone virginiana Trichodium decumbens, Delphinium azureum, Veratrum album, & Heritiera gmelini, have sprouted & thier situations are known.

I should doubtless discover more but Mrs. Macbride's illness, which has been 3 months uration has limited my excursions extremely.

The Planera grows abundantly on the mar= gins of the creeks of the Santee Swamp; it rises to the height of 40 feet tho' rarely, & its general aspect is much that of the elm. An insect makes a nidus of the flowers & then they frame a monstrous appearance frequently. The seeds fed upon with avidity by the red bird (Loxia cardinalis) This tree merits the vulgor appelation of stunted or "scrubby." of April in our stagnant ponds bearing single large yellow flowers The one with pubescent leaves & stalk the other smooth with decurrent leaves. Are they Helenia? If so we may have 4 species here. The one (that which is pubescent) may be the vernale of Walter, but the ligula far exceed 24. Having no glasses I can not determine some of the syngenesious plants & the grasses accurately.

Since my last I discovered that the Orobanche americana is parasitic, as much so as Viscum or Cuscuta. I have found it generally attached to the roots of the water oak. I suspect the O. virginiana is so too it being found always "subradix fage" Plantago major has becom naturalized, it grows luxuriantly in various parts of the Santee swamp.

You will oblige me very much by giving me any information respecting the origin, growth & favorite soils of our great tubers. From an individual specimen it appear[ed to shoot out of rotten roots like some ] other cryptoga =mica. [What are the smallest & largest specimens] you have seen.

[attachment] Species Helenii, Aprili florentes, in epistola memoratae, sic admuntrata

H. Undique puberulum: caule simplici erecto, fistuloso, unifloro: foliis alternis lanceolatis, semiam plexicalibus ranter serratulis seu sub-denticulatis: flore magno luteo, terminali, ligulis 3 vel 4 fidis. An Helenium vernale Walteri?

H. glaberrimum: foliis integriusculis alternis, lanceolatis; radicalibus longe petiolatis caulinis decurrentibus: flore ut supra omnino. An H. quadridentatum Michaux?

Obs. ambae, errhina; altitudinen 2 pedum assequentes; in habito omnino convenientes. —————————— [I am sorry to learn you have so] unpleasant a visitor [as the sick head ache. I have] suffered the same. [Strong vegetable acids generally] relieve such as sour cider, [lime juice &c. — Impaired vision] is the promi=nent fea[ture of my affection. All objects are] in an undu =latory [motion for 4 or 5 minutes when] headache & sick [stomack supervene.]

[For your information respec]ting the Rosa laevigata accept [ my sincere thanks] I have communicated it already to several gentlemen who seem resolved to give it a trial.

Business prevents me from digesting some observations I intended making.

I am dear sir, yours with great esteem J Macbride: