The Academy of Natural 
of Philadelphia 
Sciences 
Logan Square 
NINETEENTH ST. AND THE PARKWAY 
PRES.DENT*. R. A. F. PENROSE, JR„ PH. D. 
vice-pres.! Edwin G. Conklin, Ph. d. 
Henry Skinner. M. D. 
Recording Secretary: JAMES A. G. REHN 
Cor. Secretary: J. PERCY MOORE, PH. D. 
Treasurer: GEORGE VAUX. J R. 
Librarian: SPENCER TROTTER, M. D. 
Board of Curators 
Witmer Stone, Sc. D. 
Executive Curator 
Henry A. Pilsbry, Sc. D. 
Secretary of Board 
George l_. Harrison, Jr. 
T. Chalkley Palmer 
Special Curators 
in Charge of Departments 
Vertebrate Zoology: WlTMER STONE, SC.D. 
MOLLUSKS AND OTHER MARINE INVERTEBRATES: 
HENRY A. PILSBRY. SC. D. 
insects: Henry Skinner, M. d. 
plants: Francis W. Pennell, Ph. D. 
William S. Vaux Collection: F. J. KEELEY 
April 4, 1923. 
Mr. Walter Deane, 
29 Brewster Street, 
Cambridge, Mass. 
Dear Mr. Deane:- 
I am at last returning your specimens of Penstemon from Hew England, 
and trust that these will arrive in time to be of some aid to you. 
With our move to new quarters in this institution, and with strenuous 
work in labelling and sorting into sets our Colombian Collection of last 
year, other matters have been, necessarily, put aside. 
I note with interest the occurrence of specimens of Penstemon grandifloru s, 
P. laevigatus and P^ tublflorus in Hew England. All are?common ^species 
in their native homes; but all seem to be rare introductions in the north¬ 
east. I have never had the fortune to find any of these occurring as 
introduced plants. It seems curious that Penstemon laevigatas and P. 
digitalis should be so much confused, when their behaviour as* "weeds" 
is so different. Digitalis, first Known to Huttall on his expedition 
to ArKansas, has now become our common northeastern species, while 
laevigatus . Known from Virginia before 1750, and abundant as a native 
plant in the southeastern States and lower eastern Mississippi Valley, 
is 3till very scarce outside of its natural range. 
I note that you have no specimens in Penstemon pallidua , another species 
introduced from the middle Mississippi Valley, ^his differs striKingly 
from P^ hirsutus .with which it is often confused, in having its corolla 
small, white, lined with violet, and its leaves softly pubescent; w3s±±er 
hirsutus . our native, western species, ha3 longer corollas which are 
purple, tipped with nr. ite and unlined, while the midrib of the leaves be¬ 
neath, and the lower part of the stem, are hirsute with coarse hairs. 
A good specimen of pallidua is one collected for the Hew England Botanical 
Club, from Centreville, Barnstable county, Massachusetts, June 10, 1916, 
by Mr. (ShiId and others. 
Thanking you for the opportunity to consult your specimens, I am, 
jto/bec ^ ~ 
Sincerely yours. 
Curator of Plants. 
