INTRODUCED PLANTS OF AMERICA. 



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a hardy Tropical plant, that could have been introduced either 

 through Japan, or through the Polynesian islands. 



The sweet potato (Convolvulus batatas), is equally hardy in its con- 

 stitution; and could have been introduced, either by the route of 

 Japan, or that of the Polynesian islands. — The Portuguese Pilot, 

 (who set out in a. d. 1520, on his voyages to the colony at St. 

 Thomas, in the Gulf of Guinea,) speaks of this plant, and states; 

 that it is called ' batata' by the aboriginals of St. Domingo. 



The Capsicum, is sufficiently hardy to have been introduced by the 

 route of Japan ; 



And so is, F/iijsalis ediilis, 



And Solanum nigrum: though the most convenient route for the 

 three last-named plants, is that of the Polynesian islands. 



On the other hand, the banana is too strictly Tropical in its constitu- 

 tion to have been derived through Japan. The two American va- 

 rieties, it may be observed, were not seen at the Polynesian islands. 



The Carica papaya, likewise requires a Tropical route; and it could 

 have been conveniently introduced through the Polynesian islands: 



The same remark, will apply to the cocoa palm. — I am not sure, that 

 this plant is of aboriginal introduction; but Oviedo, (who was per- 

 sonally acquainted with some of the companions of Columbus, and 

 who commenced writing in a. d. 1525,) mentions the presence of 

 cocoa palms in the West Indies. 



Ageratum conyzoides, perhaps an aboriginal weed, likewise requires 

 a Tropical route for its introduction. 



b. Animals and Plants recently introduced into Nortliwest America. 



I shall mention in the first place, the animals and plants which have 

 been fairly imparted, and have attached themselves to the aboriginal 

 tribes of Oregon : 



Horses, were found by Lewis and Clarke, among the tribes of Interior 

 Oregon; havint? been derived from the Spaniards of New Mexico. 

 — It seems, therefore, the more remarkable, that horses have not 

 been acquired by the wild tribes of the Sacramento. 



Helianthus, an annual species, and the only weed I saw growing 

 around the native villages of Interior Oregon, was perhaps aborigi- 

 nally introduced from the southward. — I met with the same plant, 

 however, at the California settlements. 



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