24 • ON THE GENUS ERIOGONUM, 



Observations on the genus Eriogonum, and the Natural 

 Order Polygonea ofJussieu. By Thomas Nuttail, 



The present genus, which appears to have escaped 

 the observation of Walter in his Flora Caroliniana, was 

 discovered about 20 years ago by the late Andre Mi- 

 chaux, and afterwards published by him in his ^^ Flora 

 Boreali-Americana," accompanied by an indifferent 

 figure.* The Eriogo?ium tomentosum^ like the Mitchella^ 

 the Cephalanthus, the Sanguinaria^ or the Pcdophillumy 

 remained for about 15 years at once a genus and a species^ 

 and though at the present time at least 5 other species 

 are known to exist on the great plains of Upper Louisi- 

 ana and the North-West Coast of America; the Eriogo- 

 7iu??i of Georgia and South Carolina possesses a peculia- 

 rity of habit, sufficient to establish it as the type of a se- 

 parate section of the genus. ** 



In a natural arrangement, though; with some striking 

 singularities, the Eriogonum directly associates with the 

 Pohjgonecs of Jussieu, and approximates considerably to 

 the genus Eheum\ so important in medicine, it appears 

 also from popular opinion as well as familiar experi- 

 ment in those countries where the Eriogonum tomentosuni 

 is indigenous, to be possessed in some measure of simi- 

 lar medicinal virtues, for which reason in some parts of 

 Georgia it is called " Wild Rhubarb." As the generic 

 characters of Rheum and Eriogonum now stand, it is not 

 impossible, as I know by experience, but that even bota- 

 nists may be led to confound them. Near, however, as 

 these two genera may appear to be allied by a few ob- 



* Vol. 1. page 246. plate 24. 



