4 PREFACE. 



of our majestic Potomac, on whose stream 

 their rudiments are borne, and deposited 

 along its bank, his astonishment will 

 cease; at the Falh, too, on both sides of 

 the river, we have never failed, at each 

 successive excursion, to procure plants 

 that were before unknown to us, and add 

 the strangers to our catalogue. Among 

 them, for the present, may be mentioned, 

 the Dracocephalum denticulatum, Silene 

 regia, Tillsea cymosa, Gerardia auriculata, 

 and others. The latter is now found 

 abundantly on the low banks of the East- 

 ern-branch, (the Anacostia, within our 

 limits,) and a specimen of the first was 

 sent to Z. Collins, Esq., whose tact and 

 acumen in Botanical knowledge is unri- 

 valled, who compared it with those of his 

 own Herbarium, and with that of the late 

 Rev.Dr. Muhlenberg's which now belongs 

 to him: he fortified our decision.* This 

 plant, as well as the Tillsea cymosa, was 

 strictly scrutinized by Dr. Darlington, 

 during his last attendance in the House of 

 Representatives, whose opinion coincided 

 with that of the club. 



Perhaps, also, from the abovementioned 

 cause, may be traced in some degree, but, 



* See note, p. 6. 



