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.

your desiderata of Michaux I might have brought you several plants which I saw but were omitted from not immediately recollecting that they would be acceptable to you.

Erythrorhiza rotundifolia I found in bloom early in August every where in the mountains.

Ambrosia trifida blooms in Sept. saw it no where but in North Carolina.

Philadelphus, I met with a species on the French broad with very hirsute leaves, in other respects it resembles the P. inodorus except that is dwarfish.

Tilia canadensis generally grows plentifully & luxuriantly in the bottom lands among our mountains. It is a large tree about the size of our Liriodendron tulipifera. Its bark is manufactured into ropes & cords. Called the Lind-tree.

Polygala senega. I never saw this species before this summer. I am convinced the two varieties of this species made by Michx are two distinct species.

Rubus idaeus, I saw — wild & growing in great abundance among our mountains.

You shewed me a species of Micranthemum [Micranthemum] in your collection which you thot. diff. from the M. orbiculatum Michx. I met with it plentifully in all the upper country. It is certainly a distinct species.

The Lil. [Lilium] carolinianum of Michx. I saw in abundance among the mountains & also the canadense but less plentifully.

Frasera walteri grows in Abbeville & there used for Columbo. It is also used in the western states for the same purpose.

I put in the box a piece of stem of Aristolochia sipho which I used as a cane.

Your observations on the specimens will be anxiously looked for; indeed I shall be happy to hear from you whenever you may feel dispo =sed to favour me.

My health gradually improves tho' I am still an invalid. I am, Dear Sir, Yours with sincere regard J. Macbride

P.S. I am anxious to propagate the Pyrularia & mountain Strawberry. They are both growing in basket of their native earth. I am so ingorant of practical gardening hat I must beg you advice. Shall the be planted out now or must I wait delay until spring? Can you procure me the seed of the real Papaver somniferum? a few would be very acceptable.

Pine Ville, March 8th 1814

Dear Sir,

Yesterday I embraced the opportunity of a canal boat of sending you some plants in a proper state for culturation. The box was directed to the care of Mr. Quan at Messrs. Gaillard & Ma=zyck's [com?ting?] house & will probably reach you before this letter. For want of time I could not mark them properly but hope you will be able to find out each

1. Iris tripetala occupies one end of the box. This plant delights in a sandy but inundated soil. You will find it as I suggested to you last summer uniformly one flowered. Blooms about the 3d week in May.

2. Between the sod containg the roots of the Iris & the side of the box I squeezed in five roots of the Hypericum which you thought was a non descript. You may recollect I sent you specimens of it in Nov. 1812. You said you had seen it in Screven Co. Georgia— It grows in a moist soil & sandy— I may have committed a mis =take & taken up the roots of another Hypericum but I thought I had marked the spots well where it grew. carefull

3. Kalmia. I found this shrub lately in the eastern boundary of Sumter district & brought a dozen or two of the living plants. I presume those I have planted have taken. That which I send you I think will grow— It grows in a moist poor soil. You will oblige me by giving me its specific name if it has one. I never saw it before. It bears a considerable resemblance to the Clarendon species which I always took for K. angustifolia until you corrected me [loss] fall, but it [loss] not the same

From an examination of the living plant I would thus describe it.

Frutex humilis 2 — 3 pedalis; raro ramosus, folia terna, elliptica obtusa petiolata, superne glabra glauca subtus albido-villosa, declinata : flores in corymbis latexalibus, bracteati.

4 Anemone caroliniana you will percieve at the end of the box. Cultivation might render this plant a favourite in flower gardens. It bloomed this year about the middle of Feb. The flowers remain perfect for three or four weeks—

The purpose of professional business I must plead as the excuse for the poverty of this collection.

Accompanying this letter I send a small packet— You will find in it the flowers of the Dian= drous Salix. I will send the seed & leaves when perfected. It blooms in Feb.

2- Kalmia —— The leave are always above the flowers none below or very few.

3 Pyrites native. The lumps of oxyd of iron are the results of the combustion of the cubes.

4 I send you the seed of a plant I saw in cultivation in the upper country. It is used in cookery. Called the Nutmeg. It is said to grow wild in Tennessee. What is it? —— I expect to revisit the country where the Kalmia grows & if my information be correct I may bring home one or two nondescript Kalmia.

Your promised visit I shall anxiously look for. I am dear sir, Yours with great regard J.MacBride

8. March 1814

Stephen Elliott Esq. {Esquire} Charleston. Pine Ville post —— With a packet to the care of Mr. Quan.

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