la [26] 
BOTANICAL, APPENDIX. 
Pr. Wislizenus has intrusted to me his very interesting botanical | col- 
lections, with the desire that I should describe the numerous novelties 
included in them. Gladly would I have done so, had not leisure been 
wanting, and were'I not here (in St. Louis) cut off from large collections 
¥ 
and libraries. As it is, [ can only give-a general view of the flora of the re- 
In examining the collections of Dr. Wislizenus, I have been materially 
aided by having it in my power to compare the plants which Dr. Josiah 
ries,” has gathered between Chihuahua and the mouth of the Rio Grande, 
but particularly about Monterey and Saltillo, anda share of which, with 
great liberality, he has communicated to me. \ His and Dr. W.’s collec- 
tions together, form a very fine herbarium for those regions. 4 
The tour of Dr. Wislizenus encompassed, as it were, the valley of the 
Rio Grande and the whole of Texas, as a glance at the map will show. 
His plants partake, therefore, of the character of the floras of the widely 
different countries which are separated: by this val Indeed, the flora 
of the valley of the Rio Grande connects the United States, the Califor- 
nian, the Mexican, and the Texan floras, including species or genera, or 
families, peculiar to each of these countries. gee ie f 
The northeastern portion of the route: traverses the large western prai- 
ties, rising gradually from about 1,000 feet above the gulf of Mexico, near 
Independence, Missouri, to 4,000 feet west of the Cimarron river. The 
plants collected on the first part of this section, as far west as the cross- 
ings of the Arkansas river, are those well known as the inhabitants of our 
western plains. I mention among others, as peculiarly interesting to the 
botanist, or distinguished by giving a character to the landscape, a 
i i i arista- 
ta, Oenothera missouriensis, serrulata, speciosa, &c. 00 
Astragalus caryocarpus, (common as far west as Santa Fe,) Delphinium 
azureum, Baptisia australis, va Papaver, Schrankia.uncinata and 
angustata, Echihacea angustifolia, Aplopappus spinulosus ,Gaura coccinea, 
i eria dactyloi 
la,* Argemone Mexicana, (with very hispid stem and large white flowers.) 
kansas and C 
*e and farther down the Rio Grande; Cucumis? perennis, James, found 
Ce 
a eae 
bundant in th ras feo the Arkansas river, with beantiful Jowers, but only about 6 
