
          I had no idea of writing you this letter
 as I thought I had written quite enough to
 tire you to read enclosed with with the
 plants. But walking out this afternoon
 I observed the grass, (I think No. 23) & collected
 some seeds, & knowing your anxiety always
 to possess them in case the plant is rare
 or new. I thought I would enclose you
 some. The long^ [added: persistent] regularly divergent styles
 struck me as curious. Let me repeat again
 I know nothing about the grasses.
 It is already putting^ [added: forth] shoots from the old
 roots for the next year's growth


 May not the catapiller or worms, sometimes
 be a guide to us in determining of species?
 if not of genera. The Cordate woolly leaved
 aristolochia I sent you the winter of ’36 & 
 37 was the produce of a root I collected 
 in the up Country & brought home & transplanted
 in my garden. The spring after
 [?] the stem & leaves were about grown,
 the leaves were attacked by a large yellow
 caterpillar: & leaves pretty well eaten up before
 I noticed the ravages of the worms. They were
 different from any I had ever seen. Nor have
 I since the same worm until I collected the
 one or two specimens now sent you. I found 
 a young one on one of the plants the leaves
 of which you will find partly eaten.
 There were but 2 plants within a few feet of 
 each other & they [small?] & I have looked in
        