
          As soon as they come to hand I will write
 & communicate such information as I am able
 to collect.


 The cucurbit most common here upon our Sandy
 coast hills, I examined & wrote an article for the
 newspaper here before the formation of any
 scientific Society on the Pacific coast.# At that
 time I compared it with your description and
 concluded it could not be the Sicyos oreganus or
 of that genus. The roots of all those I have seen are
 perrennial & very large. I have often seen them
 two or three feet in diamter. They are really gigantic.
 The fruit is 4-celled & 4-seeded# (or by abortion
 sometimes less). The armature of the fruit varies, 
 & also the form of the seeds somewhat, as you
 will observe by those I send you. I suppose
 from not mentioning the fact, that Dr. Andrews has
 not shown you the specimens I sent by him for your
 examination a year ago.


 Since writing the above I find by reference
 to a report written by me at the first formation
 of our society (that plant in question was the subject)
 In that it was suggested that with some slight
 alterations in the description of Sicyos by its evident
 alliance to that genus, it should be classed there.


 Some of the specimens sent by Dr. Andrews were [illegible]
 with stout bearded spines an inch or more in length.


 {#"The Pacific" Apl. [April] 8th A.D. 1853} (#rarely in eight seeded
 (fruit is seen & often one seeded)
        