
          of the wood into that peculiar substance. I have it in all
 stages. I have seen it upon an old Pine rail, lyinf in the ground.
 The reason why it is found by itself, appears to be, that it grows from
 every point of the matrix-- as it were centrifugally-- finally covering up
 the ends & converting the whole wood into pectin. This is the case, where
 the piece of wood is short. When long, it surrounds the wood in the
 shortest diameter, & then gradually extends longitudinally, making
 long misshapen masses, as large & long as my thigh. -- As to the duration
 of the thing I have no knowledge. It is found on the roots of Arundinaria,
 as well as on wood. And a few days ago, two small ones were
 dug up in my Garden, one of which was evidently around the root
 of an herbaceous plant.


 I sent you a few things through Mr. [John] Carey the past winter, which
 I suppose you have received. As I have not lately collected much,
 & but little new matter is found here, I have not much on
 hand to interest you. Hence the smallness of the packet.
 But as I have this year to make collections for European
 correspondents, I will also gather for you whatever I may
 think will be of service to you. Of novelties I expect nothing.
 But there are some plants here which you could use profitably
 in exchanges. I sent you a good specimen of [added with caret: the very rare] Baptisia
 Serenae. What do you think of it? I sent also Carex turgescens,
 as I suppose. Is it your plant? It is not [Stephen] Elliott's C. [Carex] folliculata, as you suspected, for I examined his Carices last month. The plant in Herb. Ell. [Elliott's Herbarium] is a true C. folliculata. But this plant at the South has commonly shorter scales than the Northern plant. I can give you the result of my examination of Elliott's carices, if 

        