
          Philadelphia 18 Aug 1829

My Good friend  
I write you thus early on several
accounts.  By walking from N. Brunswick to Bordentown
I have found an excellen Botanical ground begining [beginning] at Clarksville
10 m. fr [from] Bordentown the center of which Sandstown
mill pond & swamps.  I have found many rare plants there &
believe a new Lysomachia differing from L. ciliata [Lysomachia ciliata] by lanceolate
leaves, upper [added:quaterne &] quadriflora, 5 equal stamina (no sterile filaments
as in ciliata) lobes dentate acuminate.

In coming hence try to be set down by the Stage at Clarksville
& walk to Bordentown, the fare is 25 cts from thence in Steamboat.

I have studied the curious presumed Bupleurum [added:Astrantia ? J.T.] & are
inclined to make a New genus of it, by the white flowers, linear
seeds, sessile stamina, etc.  I call it Neorolepis dichotoma
(the name I sent it to Europe already as a Juncacea) the char. [characteristics]
are - Invol3 phyllis linear, radii 3 4 irreg erectis, Involucellis
5 phyllis equalis, ellipt. acum. secariosis, trinervis, 3-6 Floris
Flor. erect incy ped linear 6 - cal integ. petala 5 [added:alba] equalis incitis
basi fovea initriceta, apcie invol retusis.  Stam 5 brevissimae
subsess. subrot.  Discus crassus, 2 stigm. brevissimae.  Semina
linearib. dorso angutato.  Pray compare this with all
the Bupleurum, Azorella, Fragaria, Bowlesia, etc & tell me if
it is not a distinct genus.  Person says all Bupl. have yellow fl

I beg you will examin carefully with the microscope
your 3 Eryngiums with opposite leaves, and furnish me the 
characters at length of each.  I suspect they must all form
a separate genus from Eryngium, the habit being so different.
I wish to ascertain if they agree with my Streblanthus
by monoical apetalus 4 androus, 4 pet flowers or in what
they differ from Eryngium.  Please to bring me these
notes.

Your friend  C.S. Rafinesque
        