1 882.] Botany. 237 



branches near by, but failed to find it. He saw an abundance of 

 G. lasiantluis and Pinckneya pitbcns in bloom, but the object of 

 our search could not be found. I made a recent visit to Darien 

 in November. We went together again, making the fifth visit to 

 the supposed locality. The following paragraph from William 

 Bartram's account of his discovery of this tree furnishes the clue 

 by which I was guided in my search. After detailing the events 

 of his journey southward from Philadelphia to Darien he says : 

 " I set off early in the morning (from Darien) for the Indian trading 

 house on the river St. Mary, and took the road up the north-east 

 side of the Altamaha. I passed through a well-inhabited district, 

 mostly rice plantations on the waters of Cat Head creek, a branch 

 of the Altamaha. On drawing near the fort I was delighted at 

 the appearance of two beautiful shrubs in all their blooming graces. 

 One of them appeared to be a species of Gordonia.but the flowers 

 are longer and more fragrant than those of the Gordonia lasian- 

 thus. 



Now this paragraph gives a clue to the situation. 1st. As he 

 journeyed from Darien, it was, of necessity, on the nqrth side of the 

 river; 2d. "As I drew near to the fort." This is ambiguous, and 

 may mean a few hundred yards, or even two or three miles, in a 

 ride of 16 miles ; 3d. The tree was evidently in sight from the 

 road, and probably not far off, so as to be readily seen by any one 

 passing that way; 4th. It was growing in company with another 

 showy, flowering shrub. This other flowering shrub was most 

 probably Pinckneya pubens (which was finely in bloom in June 

 and July when my friend went up). The only other showy, flow- 

 ering shrub which I saw in that region was G. lasiantluis, and as 

 Bartram knew that very well, the probability of its being Pinck- 

 neya is increased. 



Now about two miles from the fort, and just at the' commence- 

 ment of the sandhills, the road passes between two pine land 

 branches within 40 or 50 yards on either side, spreading out into 

 flats which approach almost up to the road. Here was an abun- 

 dance of Pinckneya on both sides, in fact the principal growth, 

 and also the on 1 spa 1 is seen f rom 'he road bet:: en Darien and 

 the fort. I suppose, at a rough estimate, there may have been " two 

 or three acres covered with the tree," as Mr. Bartram states. They 

 are so near the road, and so conspicuous when in bloom, as to 

 arrest anyone's attention, and especially one who was looking out 

 for new plants. All the indications seemed to point to the spot- 

 as the one where the F rauklmia was discovered. If, as I suppose, 

 Pinckneya was the accompanying shrub, it reduces it almost to a 



stopped here, and my friend'and I made a close and exhaustive 

 search on both sides of the road. We saw plenty of G. lasian- 

 thus, and I gathered seed vessels of Pinckneya, but Franklinia 



