Buchenau, Dr. Franz 
1868, February 6th 
Bremen, Germany 
(Letter addressed to Asa Gray) 
TRANSLATION 
Prof. Asa Gray, Cambridge, Mass. 
Dear Professor, 
I take the liberty to ask you a botanical question. You know that the Elodea 
canadensis (Anarcharis) growshvery extensively in Europe wherever it has been 
introduced and already caused many thousands of Thaler in dredging expenses. Now, 
there exists the very peculiar condition that we in Europe have only the female 
plant; therefore, it never fruits and only reproduces by budding. Now, since we 
never heard any eomplaints from America about an overgrowth of this plant, I had 
the idea that perhaps the growth might be stopped by the formation of seed. For 
this, male plants would be needed. Would you have the kindness to send a number of 
male plants, as soon as they are recognizable, packed in a glass with water, to 
Mr. Julius Focke, c/o E. Pavenstedt & Co., New York, through whom you will receive 
this letter. These gentlemen will have the kindness to give these plants to one of 
the captains of the North German Lloyd steamers. It is worth a try. 
I have received the sheets 31 and 35 of the 5th edition of your Manual which 
you kindly sent me and I have used them already extensively. Many thanks for them! 
I still should like to have an exchange connection in North America. Perhaps 
you know the name of a younger botanist or ask one? All representatives of the 
American flora would be welcome, especially I should like to have plants from 
the families: 
Rosaceae (especially Rubus), Salicaceae, Pavonia, Alismacdae, Juncaginae, 
Juncaceae, Najadeae. In exchange I could send a great number of plants from all 
parts of Germany. 
A second good opportunity to send Anarcharis male plants might be through 
Dr. G. Engelmann, who, as I learned from a letter just received, is planning a 
trip to Europe and will certainly see you in Cambridge before leaving. 
With great respect, I remain, 
Yours obediently, 
Bremen, 6th February 1868. Dr. Franz Buchenau 
Could you arrange that your Manual gets into the German book trade? The 
American books are very hard to obtain here and are becoming very expensive. For 
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