Asa Gray Correspondence files of the Gray Herbarium

Continuation of Lindeheimer's Texas Plants. 1844

The Allium, sent under 287 proves to be indentical with No. 199 and has to be inserted into the list of Plants which have been distributed in the first collection, but are again sent (free of charge) with the second sets. 199. Allium mutabile Mich. Shady moist places on the Millcreek, April & May. — than those collected 1843, near Houston; without bulbs in the umbella; shaft 12 to 20 inches high. — Ovaries with a crown of 3 scales, which disappear on the ripe capsule; in this respect dissimilar to A. angulosum Pursh (non Lin) and A. stellatum Sims where the 6 scales of the ovary remain as a crown on the capsule; ovaries with 6 ovules; capsule with 1 to 3 seeds. ————— 310. Potamogeton diversifolius Bart. β. spicatus Sill. Journ. 46, pag 102. In clear rivulets in prairies west of San Felipe; April. — Leaves 5 or 7 to 13-nerved 311. Potamogeton natans Lin var ? foliis infirmis submensis elongatolanceolatis utrinque actissimis, pellucoidis, brevis peliolatis; sequentibus longius petiolatis; sensim magis oblongis coriaceis que, summis natantibus oblongis obtusiiisculis coriaceis; pedunculis aequalis, fructiferis crassioribus, fructibus lenticularicompressis, margine acutiusculis.

In clear water, especially in pools formed by slow running rivulets west of the Brazos. fl. June. — This plant apparently distinguished from P. natans by the long petioles of the upper and the very short ones of the lower leaves, which are very narrowly lanceolate; also by the more elongated, not so obtuse upper leaves, but principally by the acute margin or carina of the fruit; in this respect it approaches P. fluitans, and on the whole it appears to be an intermediate or connecting form between both. — We have a similar form from the lakes in the bottom lands of the Mississippi near St Louis; fruit entirely the same, swimming leaves elliptical, coriaceaous, petioled; but frequently wanting, and generally appearing only after flowering; spikes mostly in the axills of the broadly lanceolate nearly sessile submersed leaves. The specimens without the upper leaves are difficult to distinguish from P. lucens Lin and it may possibly be a variety of this. 312. Xyris brevifolia Mich ? Springy swampy places near Catspring, May. — I have seen this same species under this name sent by Dr Hale from Louisiana and it agrees tolerably well with Michaux's diagnosis, better than one sent by Mr Curtis from N. Carolina under that name; so I conclude it may be Michaux's plant. — Stems 10 to 15 inches high, twisted, slightly compressed with two prominent angules smooth angles, not thickened below the head, leaves setaceous, twisted 4 to 6 or 7 inches long; head globose, scales obovate slightly crenulate; two lateral sepels obtusish, irregularly fringed and notched on the back; capsule obtuse.

I can distinguish 8 species of Xyris in my Collection; 5 are Texan, 2 eastern ("X. carolinensis" New York, & X. brevifolia" N. Carolina) and one ("fimbriata" Hale but not Elliot) from Louisiana. It is easy to class them according to the stem (or scape) which is 2 or many angled; angles smooth or serrulate-scabrous; and according to the bracts and the

13. Sisyrinchium minus n sp. caule ancipili, ramoso, foliosa, spatha paulo in aequali, flores aequante s. paulo excedente; periogonii segmentis (coeruleis) ovatis exterioribus staceo-mucronatis; capsulis obovatis, glabris.

Margin of pools etc in the prairie west of San Felipe; April. — Distinguished from the other N. American species by the smaller size of the whole plant, and all parts; the much branched stem, the ovate, not obcordae or emarginate lobes of the perigon and the oval, not globose capsule. — Stem 4 to 6 inches high; leaves mostly cauline, 1 to 2 inches long, spaths 8 to 10 lines long, acute, not mucronate, inner valve a little shorter than the outer one, with about 4 flowers, of the same length or a little shorter, rarely somewhat longer; spatha after flowering increasing; segments of perigon blue, about 2 1/2 to 3 lines long; capsules small, ovate or obobate, 2 1/2 lines long, 1 1/2 line in diameter; seeds numerous, very small, impressed — dotted, black.

NB. Our Moraea, No 189 must belong to a genus not [?] in Endlicher, though certainly a known plant as it appears to be very common in Texas; — It is distinguished by the broad connectivum between the cells of the anthers, which many Mexican or South American Irideae appears to have, e.g. Cypella, Tigridia etc send is distinguished in this respect from Mornea. Base of filaments very broad, triangular, but apparently non connected; stigmata 3, dilated, bifid. — The texan Ixia s. Nemostylis (Trichonema ? Endl) must be different from the I. coelestina from Florida. — 314. Amaryllis lindheimerii n.sp. foliis linearibus planis, scapo unifloro, folia supperante; flora intra spatham tubulosam bifidam peduculato, pedunculo exserto; perigonii tubo sub nullo, fauce nuda, limbo regulari, erecto; staminibus inaequalibus inclusis sub declinatis; stigmata trifido; capsula sub trilobo-globosa, seminibus plurimis, compressis, alatis, nigris.

In black, clayey soil in low parts of the Colorado-prairies; generally many together; in flower in Septemb; — Perigon inside yellow, outside reddish orange. — A small but very pretty bulbous plant; leaves 2 or 3 inches long, 1/2 to 1 line wide, scape 2 to 3 inches high, spath about 9 lines long, scarious; peduncle 1 to 1/2 inches long, flowers 12 to 14 lines long; capsule about 4 lines in diameter. — An Amaryllis, belonging probably to Zephyranthes Endl, with an extremely short tube.

(If a distinct genus, I should like to call it Lindheimeria. We should dedicate to L. a showy and well distinguished plant; but we will ge more new genera this season!)

NB. besides the Cooperia No 196 Lindheimer has sent a second species of which you get bulbs; it is distinguished by flat broad leaves, larger flowers, but especially by a long peduncle in the spatha (1-1 1/2 inch long) segments of perianth 1 1/2 inches long; leaves 3 to 4 lines wide. — Among the Cooperiae with sessile flowers I have perhaps two species; according to the width of the leaves; one from Houston has smaller bulbs and leaves 1/3 to 1/2 line wide (I have a few growing) more flat; the others, whether there is a difference in the flowers, I do not know. You get bulbs, at least of the last one

[postmark] St. LOUIS SEP 13 Mo. 10 Dr Asa Gray Cambridge Mass Missen & [Jfd?]

314. Amaryllis lindheimerii might be called A. lurida. I have had one in flower; the segments of the flower do not open, but remain half closed, tubular or somewhat campanulate. Stem? flower inclined, segments of perigonion somewhat unequal, outer ones yellowish brown with darker red lines, inner ones dirty yellowish, with brown red lines, stamina incurved and very unequal, upper ones much shorter than lower ones, the upper most quite short; style as long as the longest stamens, stigma short 3 parted. Ovary prismatic. — leaves nerved, flat, light green or grass green, nothing bluish in them, as in the leaves of both Cooperias. — I shall send you a bulb in the winter. —

Echinocactus setispinus continues to flower and has several small buds in the axills of the young clusters of spines. — Have I told you, that I find a very nearly related species in the gardens here; flowers very similar, tuberules more indistinctly connected in ribs, more separate; radiating spines straight one central one with a hook at the end — ought to be called E. uncinatus. Not described in Decandolle.

You say Phacelia hirsuta ([any?] ciliata) is an Eutoca — but it certainly has only 4 seeds — are there any other distinctions?

Let me know in which time the different parcel & boxes have arrived, if you can recollect, and what the expenses were — especially the small parcels. If they are cheap, we can send frequently such packages, and need not wait the conveniences of travelling friends. They appear to come safe enough.

# E. setispinus continues to flower since beginning of July probably to winter, it is growing constantly, new bunches of flowers spines are forming in the centre, and always a bud in their axills. In this respect it is very different from those E. gyrancanthus, which forms all the new clusters of spines and the flower buds at once in spring, and only developes them during the season, no new ones forming! I am satisfied that the examination of the manner of growth will furnish us with many good characters in Cacti.

The 1st Dragoons are back from a tour to fort Laramie and from there at the foot of the Mountains to the Arkansas and back. — The Officers have brought a number of Cactus with them as I learn, and I must obtain them. Mr LeConte came back with them, and brought a few plants, nothing new.

I found the other day a new (at least to me) Alisma, belong[s] to the genus, which is included between Alium proper & Sagitta-[loss] Alisma rostratum and the large Alisma sagittarioides (or radi-[loss]) as I would call it belongs here also. Stamens definite,

Anthers extrors, flowers hermaphordite, petals imbricated distinguish the genus, and perhaps ovaries capitate; (perhaps all true Alismas have ovaries verticillate ? but the Europe. {Alisma} parnassifolium, natans and ranunculoides have to be examined again; their ovaries, anthers etc, whether they do not belong here? — My new plant is a small thing with 9 stamina, I send you a specimen in this letter. — {Alisma rostratum} has 12 stam & {Alisma} sagittarioides has 21! Has the genus already been distinguished?

I have examined Cuscuta saururi & vulgivaga again, and believe them still distinct, though it is difficult to find satisfactory characteristics. If I am not mistaken {Cuscuta} saururi has as well as {Cuscuta} adpressa an embryo with 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 coils and {Cuscuta} vulgivaga only 1 3/4 — but I must examine again. — They are very near each other, but I can always distinguish them at first sight, when fresh, and I must find satisfactory proff of their specific difference. —

But what do you say, when I tell you, that I have found in a prairie 20 miles from here our Polygonum cristatum together and entwined with scandens in great abundance! I shall send you seeds. — Perhaps it has been collected and neglected by others allready!

I have paid some attention to the Cyperi this fall; On the sand bars of the Mississippi {Cyperus} erythrorhizos is common but only a few inches high and partly prostrate or caespitose depresed and very similar in habit {Cyperus} michauxianus, with it also; the true {Cyperus} diandrus very rare; but {Cyperus} castaneus is common every where. {Cyperus} erythrorhizos at swamp is 3 feet high, erected etc — I have also found this fall together with the Alisma above mentioned the Cyperus acuminatus, discovered here by Drummond. — That Alisma is very near Sagittaria pusilla, in habit etc but must be generically different. — Has it been described?

I have certainly 3 Copperias. 1. Our Nro 196 bulb as large as a hazle {hazel} nut, flower so ovary sessile in the spatha, perianth large, open segments oblong — leaves setaceous. 2. One from the Brazos, bulbs sent you last fall winter or spring, bulb as large as a hickory nut — ovary sessile in the spathe, perianth smaller, rather closed, segments ovate; leaves linear, channeled. 3. the largest, bulb like an onion; leaves broad linear flat illegible ovary pedicelled in the spathe, style included in the tube etc. — I have all three growing. You got bulbs of this too. — have all been described?

St Louis Sept 12th [18]45

My Dear Doctor

I have got your letter of July 29 and August 22d in due time; the Cactus came on well, and will no doubt vegetate. — I am much obliged for it. — You find some notes on the other page. I am particularly pleased with the Alisma which I send you, as also a fragment of the Polygonum cristatum Brazoria scutellarioides would perhaps better be called B. stachioides — Asclepias glaberrima I can not find again; since the flood of last year many the vegetation in the bottom lands has been altered considerably; Ambroma and Iva cover large tracts exclusively.

Phacelia hirsuta has only 4 ovules, why than an Eutoca? If my Euphorbia geyeri is long known, though not described, it ought to bear some other name but Geyers, for example E. commutata or some other.

I am pleased with your description of Ruellia but would request you to change the name of Dipteracanthus micranthus on account of Euphony in D. clandestinus, or occultus or parviflorus.

I send fruit of [Isomlea?] No 35 I will try to collect Oxybaphus again, perhaps in [loss] complete specimens and if possible with seed, so that we may ascertain whether distinct or not from O. nyctagineus

We have here several Texans in flower: Guilandina amblyoda 3 feet high, {Lycianthus?} [carolinis?], Cosmidium filifolium, and many others.

I am anxious to see the printed Catalogue. Is it not possible to get your Gramineae & Cyperaceae? and where; can they be had at Wiley & Putnams? — My DeCandolle vol IX was burnt in the large fire in New York!

Yours truly G Engelmann

Notes to Plantae Lindheimerianae

In the locality I believe you have sometimes been to short, where the plant has not been found in all parts of Texas; so 15. 16. 18. and others; you also leave out some thing the mouth, who collects 17. very similar forms of H. mutilum have been sent this last season by L. but the seeds proved them to be quite distinct from our gymnanthea 38 Do you consider A. glabra & A caroliniana identical? I like much your exposition of polygonella etc. 169 Is that certainly the same as the southeastern plant? I have no specimens to compare. 185 & 186 not on praries, but on wet springy places 196 Have I told you that I have three species in cultivation? I, this one, with the smaller bulb, and larger flower with spreading oblong linear segments of perigon really Drummondi? Do your bulbs produce flowers? — 203 This you consider also for C. tetragonus! Has it been found more. Torrey had not seen it when his Cyperaceae were priubed! — The seed is remarkable 206 Are there not several plants [illegible] under Sc. lacustris? my St Louis German specimens have 6 setae 3 stigm, scales smooth on the bark; the Galveston specimen has 3 setae, 2 stigm scales smooth; the Kentucky, Missouri & Illinois {specimens} have 5-6 setae 2 stigm, scales woolly; all the American ones have seeds hardly half as large and much flatter than the German plant. A specimen for Nicollet, from Devils lake has 2 stigm, 2 setae, a larger nut, and a longer sostrum; — I suppose the American & european plants must be separated. page 32 you have left 137 & 138 with my names instead of Herpestris monniera & Buchnera elongata (139 not 138 — 233 The remarks about the fruit of different relations are most interesting

here as in 244 it ought to be Muskeet or Muskit pag 38. Echinocactus setispinus; my first description of the flower was from a shrivelled imperfect flower bud; but I must have send you a full description of the flower, as of that of the 3 other Cacti; though in a later letter, it was in flower from July till now, and would in a warm room undoubtedly continue to flower; the last buds have been injured by the cool fall weather and are now shrivelled like that which I first described. It has the peculiarity to flower through the season! 2 or 3 flowers or single ones of a time. They are splendid, mor than 2 inches diameter, yellow, and scarlet. I should like to figure them all, when they come to flower next season — but am afraid, that I can not do them justice. Send me a copy of your figure of {Mammillaria sulcata}. In a letter I send you July 22d I have described it; it continues to devellop clusters of spines through the season, and in the axill of each cluster is a flower bud; but between it, and the spines is a short fleshy persistent teret when young, angular striate, next year [drawing] sometimes 2, a kind of bracteae E. lindheimeri flowers only once, and brings forth no more bunches of spines that season — a distinction which would justify a division in sections! I have a foreign species in {cultivation} which is in this respect and others similar to setispinus, also not described in the Prodromus.

Have you tubers of {Asclepias lindheimeri}? if not, I can spare you one or two. 286 is Brazoria scutellarioides, 287 B. truncata! Among {Lindheimer's} Plants is also your Dipteracanthus linearis which I had taken for a narrow leaved oblongifolius; also your D. drummondii, which I supposed to be Ruellia tubiflora; of this I have only 2 specimens, one as you describe it, the other with narrower smoother leaves, both from Houston.

296 in the 6th line it ought to be: fructiferi-tribus About Polygona more afterwards. 297 Eriogonum 306 Aphora humilis is the only of the 3 texan Aphorae with petals in the female flower; in both others they are wanting, but in all three the disc has 5 setae which I take neither for petals with {Bentham} (for they are opposite the Carinae of the Calyx, and exist in A. humilis with the petals) nor for filaments with {Nuttall} — for they occur in many crotanaceous plants, and also in the male flowers, always appendages of the disc. 314 Is Habranthus really distinct from Amaryllis? 315 Eleocharis acicularis. This may really be a variety of aricularis, with a sharply 4 angular (perhaps 4 alate) culm, greenish scales etc — but our common plant here is undoubtedly distinct from the Europen Acicularis. It is stouter, stem when fresh terete spike longer, manyflowered, but ninteut only half as large, and with 9, not 15 ribs. (How is the eastern ?) Base of stem stoloriferous! or rather creeping — a perennial? 318 {Chara} polphylla {var.} Michauxii A. Braun it ought to be; Michaux did not name it! — ———————— I have examined all our Alisma species, with more the 6 stamina; my small one with 9, A. rostratum (a bad name, others having much more conspicuous points) and A. sagittarioides (would be better called A. radicans): branches of the scape rooting) and am inclined to form a new genus out of the intermediate between Alisma & Sagittaria; which might be called, if nobody else has yet distinguished it Helanthium. It is probable that the european

Alisma parnassifolium {A.} natans & {A.} ranunculoides belong also here; besides the anthers and imbricate petals, the capitate ovaria would be distinguishing characters from Alisma to which only the species with verticliiate ovaria would be restricted. Ours have 9, 12 & 21 stamina in a very curious and pretty arrangement. I think our Alisma plantago specifically distinct from the European Plant, but my german specimens are not sufficiently mature to describe. —

I have again examined may Polygona. Most Polygonum have an outer verticil of stamina, alternating with the segments of the perianth, and fro many have from 1 to 3 of an inner verticil besides, being thus from 5 to 8 androus. The usual form of {Polygonum} ramosissimum is the only one known to me, where only these 3 inner ones are found, the outer entirely wanting; very frequent the outer ones are never found in it, but very frequently I find whole bushes with 6-merous flowers & 3 stamens and others with 6 merous fl. & 6 opposite stamens in the former the 6 stamens are opposed to the inner segments; in the latter the 3 stamens opposed to the outer ones are develloped & effoet after those opp. to the inner ones! — But that is not all. All our forms of {Polygonum} aviculare have no 5 outer, but instead of 3 always 5 inner opposite stamens! so that P. erectum can only by the habit be distinguished. — No other difference from the European P. aviculare, nut the same. Or is it specifically distinct? Perhaps identical with P. plebejum R Br New Holland. — Question: Is your eastern form the same? I suspect so (though Elliott and all others repeat: fl. 8 androus etc) as Darlington says flowers 5 androus. — P. ramosissimum is distinguished by the smooth shining nut; P. erectum (perhaps) by the larger rougher, more obtusely angled nut. — Pick some specimens up in your street and examine some flowers!

Send me also a small branch of your {Polygonum} scandens with ripe fruit — The plant puzzles me, since I have found the small form, mentioned in my & sent

Pilinophytum lindheimerii is certainly a distinct species. I have them both alive before me now in P.L. is a stout plant 3 feet high with erect branches, leaves as stated before . {Pilinophytum} capitatum is a foot high, with very many spreading branches. P.L. has flowers in spikes, P.C. in heads; in P.L. male flowers raised above the female or lower part of the spike, and [?arhis] or axis is after flowering marked, raised above the capsules, finally deciduous. — P.L. 8 laciniae of fem. calyx less unequal than in P.C.; in fruit twice as large as in P.C. much longer than the capsule and incurved so as to cover and include it, and acutish! stigmas always 12. seed somewhat globose, smaller P. cap. has 8 [?] of fem. calyx more unequal, in fruit much smaller than P.L. not much longer than the capsule, and spreading so as to expose the top of the capsule — and spathulate obtuse or retuse — stigmas always about 18 seed compressed lenticular, alwasy larger than in P.L. [drawing:} P. cap. [drawing:} P. Lindh. Seed in P.C. nearly smooth, in P.L. rough, wrinkled and warty Now: restore me the species!

St Louis Octob 6th 1845 Dear Doctor

Saturday I got your letter and pamphlet so that the above remark, made some weeks ago becomes useless; I see you have retained the species P. Lind, though with a doubt. I am much pleased with the whole, but think you do me too much honor in putting my name for it; my labor was certainly great, but probably not so efficient as yours. — I have heard nothing from Lindheimer since June. I have send him letters of recommendation to Col Hitchcock 3d infantry, who is said to be a gentleman of some scientific attainments. But as at present situated, the location of the Army can not be so very favorable for collecting; perhaps

they will go more in the interior next spring. — I shall tell Lind. about the Gram. & Cyperaceae.

Has Hooker got the Cactus & Seeds? I learn that those, sent to Germany have arrived and are flourishing. — What you tell me about Geyer was of some interest to me; I hope he has honesty enough to write me soon and pay, or offer at least plants; and I think I will wait a short time, before mentioning any thing to Hooker, whom I would not lie to prejudice against Geyer if he only hehaves now.

But if you write to Hooker, please to tell him that the money coming to Lindheimer for Cactus, Seeds, and the 4 sets of plants would best be sent by remitting me a bill of exchange of some well known house in London, which I can easily cash here. The same you might do through some house in Boston, with the money from Green etc. Charge me with one half of the printing for extra copies. Have you sent one to Dr Darlington? Chapman? Knieskem? [NB. I have some years ago sent to Dr. K. a set of duplicates, whose receipt he acknowledged, but never returned any thing though he first requested an exchange. — ] Oakes? Dr. Carpenter etc.

You know that Hooker offered some years ago a loan of his Cuscutae for me to work them out. — I have since reviewed from Germany a large set, so that a beginning to study the summons & difficult South america — Species can be made, and have now written to him, accepting his offer, but never received an answer my letter was dated Dec 18th 1844. — His offer is a great one and I would never have thought of asking for it, if he had not offered on his own account.

Gordon has only? last November in Pittsburg, going to the "Mountains of Texas", where he has been this season, I do not know. He was with Sir Wm Stuart to the Rocky Moutains 1843

he collected well, but is no botanist, and unreliable, a drinker.

You must have got my last letter the day you mailed yours. The Mammillaria appeared to do well; it is very different from my M. sulcata, but resembles M. similis. Is it certainly M. vivipara? —

The Bumelias I do not know; I never could well determine those I have. Here I have never found one; but in the interior of the State is one, of which I send a leaf and flowers; I find a note: "corolla similar to {Bumelia} lycioids, 20 lobed, middle lobe of external 3 lobed segments largest; but calyx & peduncle woolly and corolla smooth inside (B. lyc. corolla hairy inside at base, smaller) perhaps B. lanuginosa". — Lindheimer has send several, one from Galveston appears the same as the missouri plant, one from the Brazos as acute but below woolly leaves, of which I also send one; one from Houston is similar but leaves sometimes obtusish and a little less hairy — (I include it) all these from Texas have woolly calyx. The last one is a young shoot with woolly spines. — One which I take for lyciodes I have from Buckley from Alabama under the name B. tenax, with lanceolate-acuminate smooth leaves. — ————— Continued from the other sheet ⦿ [bullet point], last letter, I have payed more attention to the species and found think I know now 6 forms of climbing Polygonia with shining nuts and alated Perigonia. 1) P. dumetorum, distinguished by the cordate hastate leaves 2) scandens 3) cristatum 4) my small one from here, with leaves & inflorescences of scandens, but fruit of cristatum 5. one with very large nuts, & wings which are decurrent fully to the nodule of the pedicell; — the supranodular part of which is naked in the others 6. A small species 1-2 feet high, with axillary flowers from Beardstown (Geyer) small nuts