1792.] TO WILLIAM BARTRAM. 469 



full description to give a better account of 'em. A true Flora of a 

 country is not the work of one man ; but hands must be joined. 

 And I prefer descriptions of a particular place, where the same 

 plant can easily be found, and compared with former descriptions. 

 How useful, in that respect, is a botanical garden ! But even 

 there, some plants alter so much, that you hardly know them in a 

 wild state. Queer. Doth not Podophyllum binatum [Jeffersonia] 

 alter the number of stamina ? I wish I could get a few seeds of 

 it, to observe it closer. 



I mention some other genera, in which I could never satisfy my- 

 self, because some are badly described, some have too many 

 species : Aster, Asclepias, Arabis, Amaranthus, Angelica (quosr. 

 Could not the seed of the lucida be got anywhere ?), Glienopodium, 

 Convallaria, Erigeron, JEupatorium, G-alium, Hedysarum, Mo- 

 narda, Orchis, Ophrys, Pliysalis, Polygonum, Smyrnium, Senecio, 

 Solidago, Serratula, Tlialictrum, Urtica, besides Juglans and 

 Quercus, are the hard genera. I intend to transcribe my descrip- 

 tions for your perusal and criticism by and by, and hope you will 

 assist me in clearing up some of the rubbish. 



With great pleasure I observed a number of new plants, to me, 

 in your garden. May I beg the favour of you to gather some 

 specimens of such plants as seem worthy of observation to you ? 

 My father-in-law, Philip Hall, lives at Philadelphia ; and when- 

 ever you please to let him know that you have any collected, he 

 will send for them, and forward them to me. American plants I 

 take the most delight in. 



Have you the newest edition of the Amoenitates Acad. Linn., 

 in ten volumes, and of the Sy sterna Naturce ? If not, I can spare 

 them for your perusal, for some time. Your fine Catalogue of 

 American Animals, in your travels, shows that you are a close 

 observer. 



Have you no particular Catalogue of Pennsylvanian Animals ? 

 The Fish, Serpents, and Testudines, have engaged my attention ; 

 but I am far back. I would like an Index Faunce Pennsylvanicw. 



I see I can never leave off writing to a friend, whom I love and 

 esteem, without forcing myself. Pray forgive the length of this 

 letter ; and believe me to be, with the warmest friendship, 

 Sir, your sincere friend and servant, 



Henry Muhlenberg. 



Lancaster, September 13th, 1792. 



