Box 2 Folder 22 
A.Braun,Carlsruhe 
Oct. 14-38 
27 
Potentilla pentandra Engelmann! Now Pot.rivaiis var.pentandra 
I think this is a lovely and attractive plant and you may even find my remarks about 
it foolish. For those Linne pupils who count stamen it belongs to Sibbaldia. But! 
One of the most important parts is missing from the specimens found: I refer to the 
base part x from which the development of the plant takes place and in the presence of 
other similarities I can be guided by it 
(Michaux’s hirsuta is the american norwegica) 
Pot. norwegica from St. Louis. This one is also missing the base portion. When you 
again can send anything I must ask you for complete specimens. I cannot see any 
difference from the european Potentilla norwegica in the dried plants; I have exactly 
the same plant in my herbarium xx as Potentilla hirsuta Michx(Pot.Morisonii). Are the 
two plants identical? xxx The carpillae from the Dresden Pot. norwegica; the hirsuta 
b.pennsylv.; your norwegica from St. Louis and the diffusa s. ex host a are identical in 
all essenials( see below). 
North America holds according to the authorities numerous Potentillae and I 
recommend them to you and the whole botanical society of St. Louis because of the 
interesting growth variations in this family. One must collect all potentillae with the 
whole base or one will be in danger of confusing different species at different stages as 
x Please inform me about the base of the Pot pentandra 
xx Bernhardi has superfluously divided it in a Chinese and a Pennsylvania variety 
xxx Without doubt Even Reichenbach unifies them in the Flora Germanica 
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