or, 



spection by Mr. Plenry M. Brooks. That portion of the work 

 which related to the plants of New England engaged his chief 

 attention. The title of the treatise is 



'•New England's Rarities Discovered in Birds. Fishes, 

 SerpejUs. and Plants of that Country. Together with the 

 Piiysical and Chyrurgical Remedies, wherewith the Natives 

 constantly use to cure their Distempers, Wounds and Sores, &c. 

 &c. By John Josselyn, Gent.; 2d Addition. London, 1675." 



In attempting to identify the plants contained in the list 

 observed by Josselyn, it is evident that considerable uncertain- 

 ty will hang over several, whose old English names so similar 

 to what we use now, yet designated widely different species — 

 Yet it may not be wholly without some historical interest if 

 the attempt should be made. An approximation to identifying 

 any of them, may throw some light on the subjects of intro- 

 duction and acclimatization of kinds. Doubtless the similarity 

 of the exact species with British, may have led the author into 

 errors. With these obstacles Are proceed in the work of exam- 

 ining the early Botany of New England. 



1. "Or SUCH PLANTS AS ARE COMMON WITH US IN ENGLAND." 



Hedgehog Grass. Some species of Carex\ which on account 

 of its bristly heads or spikes is thus designated. 



Mattweed. This is our salt-marsh grass Spartina slricia. 

 "There be sorts of grasses," says Parkinson, " that serve to 

 make mats and such other workes, which doe grow in wet and 

 Moorish grounds near the Sea-side." 



Catstail. Typhci Latifolia or Reed Mace, common to both 

 countries. 



Stitchwort. Commonly taken here by the ignorant people 

 for eyehright ; it blows in June. The plant thus carefully 

 denoted as distinct from eyebright is probably Arenaria ser- 

 pyllifolia. The English species of eyebright, of the old 

 herbals, seems to be some similar kind, called Eufrasia, and 

 gramen leucanthemum. Dr. Cutler, in his " Account of In- 

 digenous Vegetables botanically arranged," (see Mem: Am: 

 Acad : of Arts and Sciences, Vol 1. 1785^) indicates " Eye- 

 bright with blue blossoms amongst low bushes," quite a 



