
          of many who consider every plant as of as [a] new
 species, which varies from what is to theirs by normal
 growth, I have always chosen the first as the most
 safe for myself and least prejudicial to service.


 In our future correspondence you will perhaps
 find some of my statements respecting the size of plants
 in the south, as inclining to extravagance. If however you
 have travelled in our delta you will at once know that
 it is not exaggeration. For example, in vol. 1 p. [page] 260. Fl. N.A. [A Flora of North America]
 you state as follows of the Berchemia volubilis "climbing
 to the height of 12 or 15 ft." In Louisiana trees exceeding
 100 ft. in height are sometimes completely covered by it, 
 and I believe that vines of it are common here which
 would measure more than 200 ft.; and would have a circumference
 [crossed out: of] near the root, of 6 to 9 inches, or a diameter of 2
 to 3 inches. In like manner Aspidium Cristatum is
 stated to grow 1 ft. high; (you give it 1 1/2ft in your Comp.
 of Fl. of N. & M. States [A compendium of the flora of the Northern and Middle States] now in my next package to you I will
 send you a specimen from our marshes, of 5 ft. high.
 Also the Woodwardia virginica grows in our rich swamps
 to the ht. [height] of 5 to 6 ft. How  these things are sufficient to
 make the young botanist doubt that he holds in his
 hand the plant discribed [described], and would be enough in
 the hands of some American botanist to give rise
 to a dozen new species.


 Since I sent your last package I have
 found several plants not before found in this region,
 as follows, Ptelea trifoliata. April. 12 ft. Polygonum
 punctatum? May. prostrate except the racemes which
 are ascending with the summit cernuous. Stems Red.
 12 inches long &c.


 Erigeron heterophyllus? & E [Erigeron] Strigosum. A new?
        