
          Ansd. Jany. 23                            West Chester, Pennsylvania - Jany. 19. 1836


 Dear Sir,


       I beg leave to trouble you for your opinion
 respecting the true character of the Sarothra - or Hypericum
 Sarothra.  I had concluded to follow those who refer the plant
 to Hypericum; but I do not find that De Candolle even notices
 it among the [dubia?], or species [excluded ?], of that genus -
 nor can I find it in his order of Hypericinae, - where
 I confidently looked for it.  Where does he intend to put it?
 Can it be that he is reserving it for a place among the
 Gentianaceae?  If it really does not belong to the order
 Hypericinaceae, a [illegible] it cannot be a Hypericum;
 and I feel at some losss how to decide.  If it ought to
 be separated from Hypeicum and made a distinct genus, the
 sexual arrangement would require it to be classed in Pentandria; and
 that is the reason why I am desirous to hear what your present opinion
 is, respecting the plant - as I must speedily decide.
 I expect my printer will next week have the last
 of Pentandria in type; and you will oblige me much
 if you will rank the plant among the Hypericums,
 or whether you mean to admit the genus Sarothra.
 I think it strange that DeCandolle takes no notice of it
 among his Hypericinaceae, when so many Botanists have
 called it a hypericum. - I get along slowly, and
 laboriously, with my County Flora.  My other engagements
 leave me about two days in a week, on an average,
 to devote to the examination of our plants; and those
 two days, I assure you, are most [illegible] employed
 in endeavors to supply the printer with copy.  Having set
 out with a desire to give detailed descriptions, with as much
 accuracy as I was capable of, I find it extremely difficult
 to keep within proper limits; and I fear I have permitted
 myself, in some instances to be too diffuse.  I am now

        