
          And. [Answered] Oct 27th


 Allenton Wilcox Co. Ala. [Alabama] Sep. 18 1841


 My Dear Sir


 Your letter containing inquiries about
 a specimen of Saxifraga has been rec'd [received]. I think
 it must be a plant which I supposed to be
 a Heuchera or Boykinia. I think I labeled
 a specimen of that as collected in Dry pine woods
 and sent it to you. It was gathered [crossed out: last] Aug.
 1840 while travelling by stage from Florence Ala.
 to Columbus Mi. In going up a long hill on the 
 South Side of Big Bear Creek I gathered 
 about a dozen specimens in a ravine near
 the road. The country is but thinly settled being
 mostly poor piney woods. I sent specimens
 of it to several correspondents. Mr. Curtis
 says that it is a new species of Boykinia.
 This makes me confident that your
 Saxifraga and his Boykinia are the same
 I have been thus particular in pointing out
 its locality so as to leave no doubt of
 its being a native species. Any botanist
 in traveling the stage road from F. to C. as
 stated above cannot fail if he look to find
 it since it does not grow 2 rods from the 
 road. I am certain that I collected no
 Saxifraga from any Garden.
 I have collected a great many specimens 
 of Croomia both in flower & fruit. I gathered 
 it while in fruit & kept it in water in my room
 for several days. The fruit is dihescent - valves 
 commence opening on the dorsel suture - finaly
 both sutures open curving up to the peduncle

        