
          Norwich March 5, 1821.

Sir

My worthy friend Doctor Hosack, some time
since, forwarded to me your very acceptable packet of 
dried plants, with your letter so flattering to me. I
should gladly have returned my thanks before now, but
many things have prevented me. I am determined, however,
not to procrastinate any longer, & as the best return
I can make, I shall, with my best thanks, give a detail
of all I have been able to discover concerning the plants
about wch. [which] you are in doubt. I must take them
without any order, distinguished by your names. Indeed
I propose to notice every one of your specns. [specimens], whether doubtful 
or not.

"Lobelia claytoniana." Pursh 447. Sent formerly by Dr. Muhlenberg,
under the name of L. pallida. Linnaeus had it from Kalm, & very 
erroneously confounded it with his own L. cliffortiana.
"Uralepsis aristulata" quite new to me. 
"Sagittaria hastata Pursh." I have this from Muhlenberg, &
the same in the Linnn. [Linnaean] herbarium from China. I think it, as you 
suspect, a variety of S. sagittifolia, a plant found all over the 
world. The lobes of the leaves in yours scarcely spread so much
as Pursh indicates.
"Ctesium paniculatum Michx. [Michaux]." Hydroglossum palmatum of Willdw. [Willdenow] 
& Pursh. Very good & acceptable. I had it not before. Perhaps this 
is the Filix scandens mentioned in Bartram's Travels, chap. 4, p. 41. 
"Corylus rostrata." Good. Linns. [Linnaeus] had it from Kalm, & marked it C. avellana!
"Hydrocotyle americana." Exactly that of Herb. Linn. [Linnaean Herbarium].
"Eriocaulon pellucidum." So I have thought it, though I have it 
from a friend as flavidulum, to which it does not answer.
"Ammannia." Seems indeed difft. [different] from what Dr. Baldwin has
sent me as humilis. It is more like ramosior of Herb. Linn. [Linnaean Herbarium] but 
smaller. I must rely on you for the excellt. [excellent] mark of the insertion of 
the petals. [added: in pencil, by Torrey: This is Elliott's, not my, character!]
"Potentilla pensylvanica." Not so, nor at all like it. More 
like our rupestris, but very distinct. P. pensylvanica is more 
        