SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
July 9, 1923- 
Mr. Oakes Ames, 
355 Commonwealth Avenue , 
Boston, Massachusetts. 
Bear Mr. Ames: 
I have never had any information as to the place in which 
the collections of La Llave and Lexarza. were deposited. As a 
matter of fact, I rather doubt whether thejr made herbarium 
specimens, and if they did it is more than probable that they 
have been lost or destroyed long ago. Scientific collections 
are not regarded very highly in Latin America, apparently, 
and there have been so many revolutions and so many earth¬ 
quakes that even with the best of intentions the collections 
have little chance for permanent preservation. It is barely 
possible that there may be some specimens of these collectors 
at Madrid, but I doubt if such is the case. I have a rather 
uncertain recollection that Doctor Rydberg once told me that 
at the New York Botanical Garden they accidentally got hold 
of a collection of plants made by La Llave end Lexarza, and 
it is possible that there may be orchid specimens among them. 
I do not now remember the exact circumstances under which 
the collection was secured, but I remember that the details 
were interesting. It is barely possible that I may be mis¬ 
taken as to the names of the collectors and that the speci¬ 
mens were those of some other Mexican botanist, but according 
to my best recollection the specimens received were those of 
these collectors. 
Sincerely yours 
Paul C. Standley / 
Associate Curator, 
Division of Plants 
