Hilgard, Theodore Charles 

 1846, June 6th 

 Belleville, III. 



TRANSLATION 



Belleville, 6th June l8*f6. 



Dear Doctor, 



Up to now we are not doing very well with our deliveries. When the Persimmons were in 

 flower, we tried to dry them, but were not successful; first we collected feraale flowers 

 on the way to St. Louis, 3-^ miles from here; after we had them in the paper for several 

 days, ha Ving turned them every 12 hours, the leaves finally began to dry, but at the same 

 tirae got a brown spot at the joint and feil all off # Thereupon, we collected male flowers 

 at Hilgards where they are in bloom longer than at the other spot. Eugen rode up there in 

 the morning and collected the specimens and put them in the specimen box; and in the 

 evening he brought them home. Many of the flowers had fallen off, but we were still able 

 to select a sufficient number of specimens and to put them in the press. When we looked 

 at them next morning, all open flowers had fallen off in the paper and only the buds 

 remained. Now, for this year we gave up the Persimmons, since we are now trying to dry 

 Aristolochia and Frasera flowers. We have put in some Frasera flowers, but by the time 

 they dry, Aristolochia probably will have ceased to bloom? For two weeks we have now 36 

 root specimens of Frasera in the press and they are not quite dry since the leaf ribs are 

 still green. The rest of the leaves are dry, but lost its green colour and became light 

 brown as the leaves of most of the Gentia species. Is this permissible or rather is it 

 possible to dry them green? I believe we also shall have to put Rhus copallina in immediately 

 after Frasera and that means we have to leave Aristolochia for next year. 



I am enclosing a small green plant which grows next to a road going down a steep loam 

 hill. I don't know whether it is native here, I have never found it before anywhere eise. 

 It does not seem to be listed in Beck, but I remember that I saw it listed in Asa Gray near 

 Droseraceae in a small order to which it might belong. In case the parts of the flower shouihd 

 not be ven^recognizable I shall describe it. 



Calyx 5$ lanceolate with a transparent edge, even, 5 flower leaves somewhat heart-shaped, 

 light blue, alternating with the calyx leaves. Anther filaments alternating with the flower 

 leaves, convergent at the top, sac light blue. The two aigm Stigmas are hanging together 

 while the style is divided . I was not able to study thd capsules Bince they were still too 

 small, but they seem to be hollow with hanging seeds. — I am enclosing some other plant s and 

 ask you to let me know their names. — We often found in the woods a lily which is just now 

 in bloom; does not seem to be listed in Beck. Stern l8"High, leaves small lanceolate, mostly 

 alternate ... Flowers as big as in Lilium canad ., but straight, the leaves not rolled back, 

 but petiolate, brick-or fire red, above its stem yellow with some brown spots, bulbs small. — 

 We are completely out of pins. 



&incerely yours, 

 Th. C. Hilgard 





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