BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 209 
(in the damp woods, but scarcely in swampy places, like Z. ory- 
zades), Bohmeria cylindrica, Lobelia syphilitica, cardinalis, and 
inflata, Cuphea viscosissima, Solidago (various species,) Erigeron > 
Philadelphicus, Eupatorium ageratoides, Anychia dichotoma, Adi- 
antum pedatum, Aspidium acrostichoides, Hamamelis Virginica, 
Cephalanthus occidentalis, Tilia glabra, Fagus ferruginea, Car- 
pinus Americanus, Ostrya Virginica, Ulmus fulva, and U. Ameri- 
cand. In the shallows of the Brandywine, a pretty picturesque 
stream, eventful in the annals of American independence, 
Mr. Townsend pointed out to me Vallisneria spiralis and Podos- 
temon Ceratophyllum, the latter attached to pebbles under water 
by small fleshy processes emitted from the stem ; we did not find 
flowering specimens at this time, though at the right season, for 
their production. Under Beech trees (Fagus ferruginea), 
Epiphegus Americana (Beech-drops, or Cancer-oot) was not uncom- 
mon here, as well as about Philadelphia. In a damp sloping wood 
Mr. Townsend showed me the true Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), 
not very plentiful in this, its only known station, I believe, in the 
county. Its bright scarlet fruit was already partly matured, but 
the plant was quite past flowering. This celebrated species is 
quite rare in the Atlantic States, but abounds in those of the 
north-west, from whence great quantities are, or used to be, ex- 
ported to China, where it is as much in demand as the drug from 
Tartary. The fresh root I found possessed a slight sweetish taste, 
with a very inconsiderable degree of aroma. 
‘ Philadelphia, August 16th. 
An extremely hot day, with a feeling of humidity, causing 
general complaints of the oppressive state of the atmosphere. 
Therm. at one, P.M., in the cool hall of Jones’s hotel, 85°. At 
St. Philip’s and St. Andrew’s churches I found the entire con- 
gregation, men and women, cooling themselves with fans re- 
sembling hand fire-screens, the clergyman in the desk reading and 
fanning himself with great assiduity: the heat might, indeed, 
Justify this somewhat irreverent manner of officiating, being ex- 
treme, and the congregation pretty numerous. Walked out after _ 
church with my friend Thomas P. James, Esq., Secretary to the 
