1792.1 TO WILLIAM BART RAM. 467 



brother could not be persuaded to remain any time amongst us ; 

 however, I have the promise of a visit some time in spring. I feel 

 myself very happy in such friendly intercourse and botanical ex- 

 cursions, and shall do what lies in my power to make them agree- 

 able to others. May I ever expect to see you at my house ? I 

 have Edwards, and Catesby, Jacquin, Gartner de Fructibus, 

 and several other valuable works ; likewise Wangeniieim on the 

 Forest Trees of America, with figures, which I would wish to com- 

 pare with you. My Herbarium vivum is pretty large, and would 

 alone take a day to look attentively through. Do make it suit 

 you ; and, after letting me know a short time beforehand, that I 

 may be certainly at home, stay with us, and make your home at 

 my house. 



I come to the answer of your instructive letter, and confess that 

 I have made the same observation on Linne's Species Plantarum. 

 The synonyma are very often misplaced ; but, how could it be 

 otherwise, in such a work ? Americans, who see American plants 

 in their native places, must compare them with good figures, and 

 emend the species. ITelonias bullata, I mean the plant I saw in 

 your garden, with red [?] flowers, is no doubt described by Miller 

 under the name of Veratrum Americanum ; which, in the latest 

 edition of the Systema Vegetabilium is made a synonym to it. 

 The figure, Amoen. III. t. 1, f. 1, is but indifferent. Veratrum 

 luteum, Milleri and Gronovii, is figured better, III. t. 1, f. 2. 

 I found it floribus dioieis, and floribus polygamo-dioicis, some 

 plants male, some male and hermaphrodite, on one stalk. Thun- 

 berg describes a Melanthium luteum, and adds the synonym, 

 Veratrum luteum, L. with yellow flowers. I would look upon 

 that as a variety. In our parts, the Veratrum luteum (Spica 

 mascula circinata) is called Devil's bit, the Aletris farinosa, Blaz- 

 ing Star [?]. In Maryland, I found a plant very much like the 

 Veratrum luteum, with red flowers ; but can't remember whether 



in which situation, as pastor, he devoted himself assiduously and most faithfully 

 to his duties, until the moment of his death, which occurred, by apoplexy, May 

 23, 1815, in the sixty-second year of his age. 



He was a man of extensive science, and particularly eminent for his knowledge 

 of Botany. He enjoyed a correspondence with many of the most distinguished 

 cultivators of Natural Science ; and was a member of several learned societies, at 

 home and abroad. His letters are very frequently referred to, in Willdenow's 

 edition of the Species Plantarum. His principal published works are, Catalogue 

 Plantarum, and Descriptio uberior Graminum. His Flora Lancastriensis remains in 

 manuscript. See Encyclop. Americana. 



