
          Phil. [Philadelphia] Saturday 7th Apr [April] 55


 Prof [Professor] John Torrey


 My dear sir,


 I have received this morning your favor dated March
 20th anticipated by your of Apr [April] 30 in both of which you
 give me the description of cornus sessilis


 I had only two small specimens, 2 - 3 inches long,
 which I mistook, at first sight, for a Dir[added:c]a palastris
 consequently the flowers are yellow and mixed up with
 young leaves [flordbus?] minacum foliri nor centibus. I believe
 I gave them to Dr Gary who wished to compare them
 with your specimens. He had no doubt they belong to the
 same shrub. As I have them no longer, please to 
 inquire from him if he has them not.


 If I recollect well the division of the petals were
 linear and pretty long. I paid no particular attention
 to it; I had only, at the time arranged the collection
 in families and I had placed it as a Dirca, to which it
 ressembles very much by the color of flowers and by two
 leaves growing together, I would have so on precived
 my mistake if I had looked at it critically


 The small plant I had sent you was [added: you said when] a shoenolirion
 not having your description as I had begged you, I gave 
 it myself as wall as I could I call it album, which 
        