Here we are again embarrassed with an American plant under a foreign name. This, however, there can be little doubt, is intended for the " American centaury," Chironia angularis of Linn. The cut, &c. are taken from Woodville. 9. Potentilla reptans. D.-" Cinque-foil. Potentilla reptans.' 22

The potentilla reptans is a native of Europe, and has probably never been seen in the United States. The plant here spoken of, we suppose must be the American potentilla sarmentosa of Willd.

10. Cardamine pratensis. D.-" Common lady's smock. Cardamine pratensis."

Cardamine pratensis, has never, perhaps, been seen in the U. States, either native or cultivated; but, it is possible that an American cardamine, or lisymbrium, may have been seen by the author, and mistaken for cardamine pratensis.

11. Sambucus nigra. D.-" Elder, black. Sambucus

nigra."

Sambucus nigra, is found native in the north of Europe, but is rarely, if ever, even found in our gardens. The plant, therefore, which Mr. Henry speaks of, must be the common 'elder,' sambucus canadensis, which is found in every state in the union.

12. Sambucus ebulus. D.-"Elder, dwarf. Sambucus ebulus."

This is also a foreign species, and the native one spoken of may be the sambucus pubens.

13. Rhus coriaria. D.-" Elm-leaved sumach.'

The Rhus coriaria, we are informed by Willdenow, is a native of the south of Europe, Syria and Palestine; certainly not known in the United States. The rhus copallinum, which is common in all, or most of the states, is probably the 'elmleaved sumach' of Mr. Henry.

14. Eryngium maritimum. D.-" Eryngo, or sea holly. Eryngium maritium.”

This eryngium maritium, we think has never been seen by Mr. Henry, unless he has explored the sea coasts of Europe. It is so unlike any of our native species, that we are at a loss to ascertain the plant he may have employed: if any, we suppose the eryngium aquaticum of Michaux? At all events, it is easy to perceive that the cut, though mutilated, is taken from Woodville; and it is equally evident that the description comes from the same source.

15. Helleborus fœtidus. D.-"Fœtid hellebore, or skunk cabbage. Helleborus foetidus."

Here is another curious instance of an engraving of a foreign plant, while the description evidently applies to a native one, altogether different in its appearance. As we have no native helleborus, the plant described is unquestionably the pothos fœtida, known in Pennsylvania by the name of "swamp cabbage." It is amusing enough to observe in the description, the flowers stated to be inconspicuous, while they stare you in the face almost as large as a rose! In the skunk cabbage,' however, they are inconspicuous.

16. Solidago virga aurea. D.-" Golden rod. Solidago virga aurea."

17. Veratrum album. D.-"Hellebore alba. Veratrum album."

The veratrum album is a native of various parts of Europe, but has not been found, even in a state of cultivation, that we know of, in any part of the United States. But we have a native one, bearing a considerable resemblance to it, the Veratrum viride, which is probably the plant that Mr. Henry has

seen.

18. Arum maculatum. D.-" Indian turnip. Arum maculatum."

Here we have another example of dignifying a native plant with a foreign name. The engraving is evidently copied from Woodville, but upon a rather smaller scale. The root is omitted, which differs very materially from that of our Indian

turnip,' the arum triphyllum, which we suppose must be the plant Mr. Henry means.

19. Lactuca virosa. D.-" Lettuce, wild. Lactuca virosa."

This lactuca virosa, we presume, is the sonchus oleraceus, as the former is not found indigenous.

20. Polypodium vulgare. C.-" Male fern. Polipodium vulgare."

The Polypodium vulgare of Europe and America may bé the same, but there is no identifying this engraving with any known American species. It is very unlike the vulgare, and if it be a polypodium, is probably a different species.

21. Imperatoria ostruthium. D.-"Masterwort. Imperatorium ostruthium.".

With all due deference to Mr. Henry, neither the imperatoria ostruthium, nor a single plant belonging to the genus imperatoria, has yet been found in the United States: but as the natural order umbellatae, contains a great many vegetables that bear a close resemblance to each other, mistakes may readily be made by those who have no knowledge of systematic botany.

22. Viscum album, D.-" Misletoe of the oak. Viscum album."

No botanist has yet ascertained whether the viscum album, which is a native of Europe, is also a native of the United States.

23. Sedum acre. D.-" Prickly pear. Sedum acre."

It is evidently a species of cactus that is here engraved, which resembles sedum acre about as much as an apple tree resembles a grape vine! Its qualities also differ as widely as a cabbage from a red pepper! Sedum acre is an European plant, and as its specific name implies, is an acrid stimulant, while his plant is mucilaginous.

24. Spiraea ulmaria. D.-" Queen of the meadows. Spiera ulmaria."

It is impossible to know from the figure what American plant Mr. Henry means by spiraea ulmaria, which is a native of Europe, and has pinnated leaves. The plant figured bears no resemblance to a spiraea.

25. Rumex acetosa. D.-" Sheep sorrel. Rumex acetosa."

The rumex acetosa, or "common sorrel" of Europe, is sometimes cultivated in our gardens, but is no where found native. Mr. Henry has copied the engraving, description and all, and no doubt considers our rumex acetocella as the same plant, although to an observer of no uncommon acuteness the difference would be at once apparent.

26. Chenopodium vulvaria. A.-"Stinking goose-foot. Chenopodium fœtidum."

Neither this plant nor the polygonum bistorta above mentioned, have ever that we know of, been seen even in our gardens.

27. Laurus nobilis. A.-"Sweet bay tree. bilis."

Laurus no

This is the second laurus nobilis we have met with in this American Herbal. While one plate has served for engraving two distinct plants, two distinct plants have been accommodated with the same name! This, to be sure, is economical, but it is very embarrassing to us who are mere students of botany. We think the author ought, at least, to have distinguished his poetical laurus nobilis, by the title of majoribus. It is only necessary for us to deny that this poetical laurel has ever been found native in any part of the United States. It inhabits the south of Europe, but is sometimes, though rarely, met with in our gardens.

28. With respect to the other laurus nobilis, (D.) mentioned at page 34, which he calls " bay berry bush," we have no clue either from the title or description, which would enable us to ascertain what it may be. From the account given of the berries, we might suppose that the "candle berry myrtle," myrica cerifera, was meant; but other circumstances, as the

time of flowering, place of growth, &c. if correctly detailed, forbid this supposition.

29. Cichorium intybus. A.-"Succory, Cichoreum.” This "wild succory," is certainly not found wild in the United States, and very rarely in a state of cultivation.

30. Scutellaria lateriflora. D.-" Scull-cap. Scutellaria galericulata."

For once we have it in our power to state that the mistake in the specific name of this American plant, did not originate with Mr. Henry. In a communication that appeared in the "N. York Medical Repository," several years ago, on its antihydrophobic qualities, the foreign name of galericulata was applied.

31. Ranunculus acris. D.-" Upright meadow crowfoot. Ranunculus aeris."

This ranunculus acris we suspect to be the ranunculus bulbosus, which is now very common in the middle states. The ranunculus acris is not a native, nor has ever, that we know of, been introduced in any way. The ran. bulbosus, it is supposed, was originally imported from Europe.

32. Clematis recta. D.-" Upright virgin's bower. Cle

matis recta."

Like the preceding, this plant is unknown in the United States.

33. Nymphaea alba. C.-White pond lily. Nymphe alba aquatica."

We cannot tell either by the description or engraving, what "white pond lily" this can be with yellow flowers! Certainly not the plant named.

34. Sisymbrium nasturtium. D.-"Water cresses. Sisymbrium nasturtium."

As sisymbrium nasturtium is not known to be a native Mr. Henry may have arranged under that name the Cardamine Pennsylvanica, Arabis bulbosa, or some other tetradynamous plant-it is impossible to know which, for the cut is copied from Woodville.