470 DOCTOR MUHLENBERG [1792. 



Dear Sir : 



I was favoured with your kind letter, dated September 29th, 

 this day ; and return you my warm thanks for the letter and the 

 plants. No. 1, is an Agrostis, which I have never seen before, 

 different from Spica venti by the panicula purpurascente capillari. 

 No. 2, Aster, that grows with us on dry land (allied to a large 

 Aster which grows on better land, and is, I think, Novce Anglice). 

 No. 3. Hibiscus coccineus. 4. llelianthus ? I never saw before ; 

 the simple stigma of the disk flowers raises some doubt. 5. Aster, 

 is different from ours. 6. I take to be a Sonckus, calycibus et 

 scapo? hispidis:. not here. I hope to see these plants in future 

 travels, alive, and in greater number. 



I agree with you in opinion, that the Blazing Star is neither a 

 Veratrum, nor Uelonias, nor Melanthium.* The plant is well 

 known in Europe, and has been ranked with Veratrum luteum, as 

 a variety. I find that a similar plant has been figured by Ehret, 

 per Trew, t. 77, and Miller, Icon. t. 272 ; but have seen neither 

 of them. 



A few seeds of the Momordica ? I herewith send. In my little 

 Index, it is named echinata ; but the plant is one of my Adversaria. 

 I likewise inclose a few seeds of a noble Grass, which will be a 

 valuable acquisition to our country, if cultivated in meadows, the 

 Avena elatior, L. 



The Amoenitates Acad. I will send in numbers to you ; and now 

 begin with Vols. 7, 8, 9, which, perhaps, you have not seen. After 

 you have read them, please give them to Mr. Philip Hall, when- 

 ever it suits you. The rest shall follow, after you have informed 

 me which volumes you have perused already. I shall put some 

 plants in Vol. 7, to have your opinion, as I am not able to name 

 them after Linne. If any are new to you, I will get seeds. 



I would certainly be exceedingly pleased, if I could have your 

 company at my house, and would do all to make your stay with us 

 agreeable. If my health is spared, I shall be next year, the be- 

 ginning of June, at Philadelphia, and then will be with you. Mean- 

 while, we can correspond together, and clear up our doubts. The 

 Plantce palustres of Schuylkill, in particular, I would like to see, 



* Prof. A. Gray, in his "Manual" adopts the generic name, Chamcelirium, 

 Willd. 



