NORTH AMERICA. 
CHAP. IX. 
After my return from the Creek nation, I em- 
ployed myfelf during the fpring and fore part of 
iummer, in revifiting the feveral diftricts in Geor- 
gia and the Eaft borders of Florida, where I had 
noted the mofl curious fubjefts ; collecting them 
together, and (hipping them off to England. In 
the courfe of theie excurfions and refearches, I had 
the opportunity of obferving the new flowering 
Irirub, refembiing the Gordonia*, in perfect bloom 
as well as bearing ripe fruit. It is a flowering tree, 
of the firll order for beauty and fragrance of blof- 
foms : the tree grows fifteen or twenty feet high, 
branching alternately ; the leaves are oblong, 
broadell towards their extremities, and terminate 
with an acute point, which is generally a little re- 
flexed ; they are lightly ferrated, attenuate down- 
wards, and feflile, or have very fhort petioles ; they 
are placed in alternate order, and towards the extre- 
mities of the twigs are crouded together, but Hand 
more fparfediy below ; the flowers are very large, 
expand themfelves perfectly, are of a fnbw white 
colour, and ornamented with a crown or taffel of 
gold coloured refulgent flaminas in their centre, the 
inferior petal or fegment of the corolla is hollow, 
formed like a cap or helmet, and entirely includes 
the other four, until the moment of expanfion ; its 
exterior furface is covered with a fhort filky hair ; 
the borders of the petals are crifped or plicated : 
* On firft obferving the fructification and habit of this tree, I was in- 
clined to believe it a fpecies of Goidonia ; but afterwards, upon ftn6ter 
examination, and comparing its flowers and fruit with thofe of the Gordo- 
nia lafianthus, I prefently found linking characteriftics abundantly fuffici- 
ent to feparate it from that genus,, and to eilablifn it the head of a ne w 
tribe, which we have honoured with the name of the illulhious Dr. Ben- 
jamin JFranklin. 
Franklinca Alatamaha, 
H h tbefe 
