134 SOME AMERICAN MEDICAL BOTANISTS 



1877, however, that it was found, and then quite 

 accidentally, by G. M. Hymans, a boy who knew 

 nothing of the good luck that had befallen him. 

 He had picked it up on the banks of the Catawba 

 River near the town of Marion, in McDowell 

 County, North Carolina. Fortunately his father 

 was a professed herbalist, and, through a cor- 

 respondent, finally learned the true nature of the 

 plant. It had been collected when in flower, and 

 thus Dr. Gray was able to substantiate his orig- 

 inal ideas of the genus and perfect its description. 

 He still clung to the idea that its natural habitat 

 must be, as Michaux said, in les hautes montagnes 

 de Caroline, arguing that the point on the 

 Catawba where it had been found was an outly- 

 ing haven to which it might have been washed. 

 So with renewed energy it was searched for 

 through the mountains, but always without suc- 

 cess. 



" In the autumn of 1886, Professor Sargent 

 visited the mountainous region of North Caro- 

 lina about the head waters of the Keowee River, 

 with the object of rediscovering Magnolia cor- 

 data. At Hog Back, now called Sapphire, he 

 was met by Mr. Frank Boynton, to whom he 

 showed a leaf that he had gathered, and asked 

 what it was. Mr. Boynton at first thought it was 

 galax, but on looking at the leaf more closely 

 said that he didn't know. The same evening a 

 letter came from Dr. Gray in which he urged 



