
          Olympia, Puget's Sound, Washington
 Territory Jany [January] 8th 1854


 My Dear Doctor


 Enclosed I take the liberty of sending you the leaf
 and a few seed vessels of an odoriferous shrub which grows in
 this neighborhood, but is said to be rare even here. It [presents?]
 its hairs in winter, though firm their shrivelling somewhat
 during the coldest weather I imagine it is not quite at home [crossed out: ?]
 in this latitude. Its flowers I have not seen, they are said to be white.
 The man who brought me the plant, a Mr. Quincy A. Brooks, was
 very curious to know its name and whether described or not. It grows
 on the edge of the prairies, to about a man's height, its twigs are
 straight & not much branched, the leaves alternate, bark green.
 He states that the glutinous gum which covers the leaves and which
 I suppose to be honey dew is invariably found upon them. The
 shrub may for ought I know be [crossed out: well] a common one, but I
 have not before noticed it, though familiar so far as sight goes
 with most of the plants of this country. The odor is much like
 that of a species of Juglans growing in California near the [sierra?]
 & known there as the bay, wild olive, sweet laurel, & c.


 If you will take the trouble to drop me a line directed
 to Astoria, Oregon, I shall be much obliged to you.


 With great respect
 Yours very truly
 George Gibbs


 x[Ceanothus velutinus, Hook.
 t.45


 Dr. John Torrey

        