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Correspondence of Charles Peck and G. W. Clinton |
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The
Correspondence of Charles
Peck (1833-1917) and George
William Clinton (1807 1885) 1866 Part 1 Vol. 2 (129) [D98] My Dear Sir, Yours of yesterday is at hand. Shall be glad to see you in I have specimens of Phascum crassinervium from I have written nearly all of the List of N.Y. Mosses, giving name,
habitat and time of perfecting fruit; and in those less common, the station.
I inquired of Mr. L. concerning the propriety of describing the species not
described in the Manual. He says "I do not know what to say about your
purpose of publishing some descriptions in your catalogue. This is not
customary, except for new species; for any one reading a Cat. of Mosses is expected to have some work where he may find
a description of any one of the species. On the other hand, the only American
book where we find descriptions of Mosses is Gray's Manual, and it can be
remarked with truth that in your Catalogue you put descriptions of species
not in Gray's Manual, as a kind of help for those who desire to study
mosses." In this connection he says that it would be necessary to
describe all the species, without exception, that are not in the Manual, and
that scientifically, the List would be better without the descriptions, and
generally speaking it might be better with them; and finally that I may do as
I like. Should I decide to insert the descriptions he kindly consents to
prepare them for me as I have no work containing them; also to review the
manuscripts before they are given to the printer, and to aid me in any way he
can in making the thing good and complete. I distrust my own judgment. Shall we put in the descriptions or not?
All the following species would require it, viz. +Seligeria calcarea Trematodon ambiguus Blindia acuta Trichostomum fragile Grimmia ovata +Schistostega osmundacea Bryum acuminatum +Bryum cyclophyllum Mnium lycopodioides Hypnum Blandowii + Hypnum tenellum Hypnum giganteum Hypnum fertile Hypnum velutinum Hypnum confervoides Hypnum Sprucei Hypnum pulchellum 17 +These four species are new to this country, having been first
discovered here during the past season, two by yourself,
two by me. Besides the following which are described in "Additions and
Corrections" to the edition which I have of Mosses of United States, but
which I believe are not in the general edition of the Manual; viz. Campylopus viridis (sterile) Fontinalis antipyretica var. gigantea Fontinalis Novae‑Angliae Pterigynandrum filiforme Hypnum piliferum 5 And perhaps Climacium dendroides
and Leskea nervosa (sterile) which last two are mentioned but not described
fully in the Manual. This would make a total of 24 species to be described
which rather inclines me to think that descriptions better be entirely
omitted, as it is scarcely the purpose to issue a new edition of Bryology.
Still I would defer to your greater experience and better judgment. Of the
species here enumerated, three are described in Icones,
but that work is in Latin and not within the reach of many. Truly yours Chas. H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Jan. 3 Vol. 2 (150) [D75] My Dear Sir: Herewith I send you a list of plants,
marking those which I have thus, X, from which my "desiderata" may
be infered, as it includes anything that I have not
at present. I do not know as I am any more anxious for one than for another.
I do not think that I shall attempt to do much with the mosses &
liverworts as my collections take more of my time than I ought to give to
them. May thanks for your advise. I will try to
profit by it. Very truly yours Lewis Foote Received 19th Jan. Vol. 2 (151) [D74] My Dear Sir, Your letter of yesterday was received today. Prof. Pickett's mosses
are Platygyrium repens,
Bryol. Europ. and Hypnum acuminatum,
Beauv. I suppose the paper for mounting the mosses need not differ in any
respect from that of the other plants, except the extra paper for the little
packets. I think light flatcap would be the neatest
for that, but any good white paper would do. I have written out a List of my Phaenogams,
which I will mail to you with this. Of course anything not named in it, and
of which you have plenty will be most thankfully received, though I do not
know how I shall ever repay you for what you may let me have, for my chances
of finding anything desirable to you are very few. I have completed the List of Mosses of the State of Very truly yours Chas H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received & answered Jan. 20 Vol. 2 (161 [D63] My Dear Sir, Yours of the 20th is at hand. Inclosed
specimens as follows: "Mastigobryum trilobatum" ‑ right. 1 Dicranum scoparium
var. pallidum D. heteromallum is smaller, more slender. 2 The larger tuft with fruit just mature,
is Orthotrichum Ludwigii,
Schwaegr. The deoperculated
capsules show the pyriform shape mentioned in the description in the
Manual. The smaller tuft is Orthotrichum crispulum, Hornsch. Best
distinguished from O. crispum when the capsules are
jsut mature, or by soaking the dried capsules, when
they show the shorter form and more delicate texture in O. crispulum 3 Hypnum triquetrum, L. 4 Atricum undulatum,
Beauv. The specimen is rather smaller than the
usual size of the plant, but distinguishes from A. angustatum
by the rather larger leaves with more narrow ridges on the costa, and by the
usually paler pedicels; the leaves are also more undulate. "Yea"; Rev. Mr. Fowler and Prof. Pickett will be, I
imagine, most acceptable correspondents. The specimens of the latter, which you
brought with you to Yours very truly Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received Jan. 23 Vol. 2 (198) D24] My Dear Sir, Your note with specimens is at hand. No 1 I can scarcely decide without fruit. From all that can be seen
it is H. rutabulum, slender, suberect form. 2 Hypnum Haldanianum,
Grev. I also return a specimen of this species
which you sent me last season, since you wrote that you could find none of it
among your retained specimens 3 Hypnum cordifolium,
Hedw. 4 Hypnum uncinatum,
Hedw. Returned. 5 Hypnum crista‑castrensis,
L. 6 Climacium dendroides,
Web. & Mohr Beautiful and rare. Capsules and operculum shorter than in C. americanum; leaves less auricled at base. Returned. 7 Sphagnum acutifolium, Ehrh. 8 Aulacomnion palustre,
Schwaegr. 9 Neckera pennata, Hedw. 10 Madotheca platyphylla,
Dumort. Your need not take the trouble to send the Hypnum
revolvens now, but I shall be glad to see it when
you come to Sincerely yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received March 1 Vol. 2 (202) [D20] My Dear Sir: Having looked through Mr. Fish's specimens I would report as
follows; Hypnum crista‑castrensis, L. 2 Mastigobryum trilobum,
Nees 3 Dicranum undulatum,
Turner 4 Trichocolea tomentella,
Nees 5 Bryum pyriforme, Hedw. 6 Hypnum orthocladon
Beauv. 7 Mnium affine, Bland. 8 appears to be sterile plants of 7 9 Leucobryum vulgare
syn. glaucum 10 Dicranum flagellare,
Hedw. 11 Jungermannia curvifolia,
Dicks. 12 Polytrichum formosum
& sterile 9 13 Polytrichum juniperinum
& sterile 9 14 Aulacomnion heterostichum,
Br. & Sch. 15 Bartramia pomiformis,
Hedw. 16 Mnium affine, Bland. 17 Hypnum cuspidatum,
Hedw 2
sterile Hypna mixed 18 Hypnum orthocladon,
Beauv. 19 Radula complanata,
Dumort. 20 Atrichum angustatum,
Beauv 21 Bryum argenteum & apparantly Bryum caespiticium
intermixed 22 Pogonatum brevicaule,
Brid. 23 Lichen name not known 24 Lichen name not known & sterile Hypnum
laetum, Brid. 25 Marchantia polymorpha
L. I have today written out the List of NY hepaticae
The number is 63. Three of these are named and described by Mr. Austin as new
species, viz. Jung. sullivantiana,
J. lescuriana and J. peckii
‑ rather a formidable array of personal names, when we consider that
there are only three species to be named. Truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received March 6 Vol. 3 (13) [M216] My Dear Sir, I received the package of mosses last night and have been looking
them over to day. But to begin back a little. Mr. Austin is probably correct
in regard to the Preissia commutata.
I have recently changed my views entirely concerning Reboulia
and now consider all my specimens which I before called Reboulia,
Preissia commutata, so
that I am entirely ignorant of R. hemisphaerica,
though Mr. Austin assures me that it is found in the State. The P. commutata is not uncommon here. I have called at Mr. Hickox's store twice,
but he was absent both times. The clerk considers the paper all right and
says they are only waiting for orders to cut it to the proper size. I have received the "Musci" from Mr. Lesquereux. Am
delighted with it past measure. I have learned more from it concerning
difficult species in three days than I could learn from the Manual in three
months. It enables me to correct the errors of the Manual, which are by no
means few, and makes me feel safe in my determinations, where before I was
distrustful, because I had learned that I could not rely on the descriptions.
I have found among your specimens Orthotrichum
leiocarpum and Hypnum cuspidatum, which I do not remember to have received from
you before. I find also two very distinct varieties of Hypnum
revolvens and four of Hypnum
filicinum, every one of which appears quite
different from our most common form. This clears up some points which before
were not well settled in my mind and makes me feel as independent as a
Yankee. So much for the help which the Musci Boreali
Americani has already afforded me. I know Mr. Lesqx. would feel at least
partly repaid for his long labor if he knew how much good these specimens are
doing me. But I fear I shall not be able to separate your Seligeria.
I looked long for some distinguishing mark but could find no satisfactory
one. At length
I moistened the plants named by Mr. L. "S. calcarea"
and alas! nearly all of them dropped their heads in
shame, giving the pedicel a graceful curve, thereby showing how much they
would prefer to be called S. recurvata. V truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received March 25. Wrote him 27th Vol. 3 (21) [M208] My Dear Sir, Yours is at hand. I have looked through all your packages, and
separated, reexamined, corrected, compared, &c. Most of them were quite
well labelled, but the Hypnums
were in some confusion. For some of the errors I myself must be answerable,
but with the new light furnished by the Musci I think they are now reliable.
I have, to night, put in water all your Seligeria and really hope that in the morning I may be
able to recognize the different aspect of the two species and the essential
characters as given in your extract. Even should I fail to do this I shall be
slow to think there are not both species present, for it is more probable
that I lack sharpsightedness than that both you and
Mr. L. should have been deceived. I return the specimens from We are expecting you here soon. In the mean‑time, as I am now
very busy, I prefer to wait your coming before commencing operations with the
State Herbarium. They say they can have the paper ready in one hour after the
order is given so that no great delay will be incurred by waiting for your
supervision. My idea is to have the paper for the moss the same as you have
for the other plants, and I do not wish to take any steps which might by any
possibility be wrong, or in any way diverge from your plans. Yours truly Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received March 30 Vol. 3 (22) [M207] Hon: G. W. Clinton My dear Sir. I wrote you (not a pretty letter) but a pretty long one
yesterday. This morning I have a letter from Gray concerning the price of the
Musci and he says that at $35.00 currency it is ridiculously too low. He
wants us to sell at $50.00. But we agree with Mr. Sullivant
that $35.00 in gold will be just right. I do not write this to change the
price for you. I owe you contributions and many kindnesses which I would be
happy to acknowledge, but I will charge the Albany Cabinet the price in gold
and wish you to mark it thus if you mention it to some of your acquaintances.
I have just sent your sets to the express. Very respectfully your friend L. Lesquereux Received March 30 and wrote to him to draw on Mr. Sweeney, for
$35.00 gold. Vol. 3 (29) [M200] My Dear Sir, More good luck! The moss from I have mentioned my difficulty in the Seligeria
matter to Mr. Lesqx. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Recd. Ap. 5 Vol.
3 (35) [M194] Hon.
G. W. Clinton My
dear friend Do
not fear. He's all right with that Seligeria
pusilla. I have had so much trouble in
getting acquainted with it that this acquaintance can not be repudiated now.
I wrote you, I think, that I had found this S. pusilla
only in one or two of your last packages of Seligeria
and this in very small quantity. As I have also a letter of Mr. Peck on the
subject, I will write him the characters and send him separated specimens. I
kept some for me, though very few and he can have them if I should not find
any more in your packages. But I think that there are some left yet. I can
not come to that examination till after to morrow. As soon as it is made, I
will report and return specimens. Many
many thanks for your very kind and very good letter
of March 30th. As you say, I will never be rich but happily I can afford to live
poor and die poor also. Yours
very affectionately L.
Lesquereux April
8 Vol. 3 (36) [M193] My Dear Sir, No. 1 is Hypnum rutabulum;
No. 2 Bryum argenteum; No. 3 Ceratodon purpureus. It is now a very good time to look after such mosses as fruit late in
Autumn or during winter. You will now find some capsules without the
operculum e.g. No. 1 But it is too early yet to find good specimens of such
as fruit in the spring. Hypnum piliferum would now be good if you could find it,
though some of the capsules would be deoperculated.
Look for it in deep moist shades, or in woods along thebanks
of streams on the ground, or rotten logs. Hypnum velutinum is now good. It grows on
the ground in rather dry woods under hemlock on pine trees. Hypnum blandowii
is now good or will be soon I judge from the condition of your last year's
specimens. I wish you could find this again. You ought to collect more H. stellatum, H. nitens, H. revolvens (both forms), H. noterophilum
and Bryum cyclophylum. It is very doubtful whether
you will find these in fruit at any season. I find Bryum capillare among your mosses.
I have looked through all
your packages. Shall I return them at once or wait till you
come. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Received April 10 Vol. 3 (42) [M187] My Dear Sir, The two specimens of Orthotrichum appear
to me to be Orthotrichum anomalum.
The calyptra is much more hairy in O. Hutchinsiae. The mixed spceimen contains Barbula unguiculata,
Weisia viridula
and Pottia truncata. We now have some fine weather which I improve by collecting insects
in the absence of anything better. Most truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received April 15 [some
pencil writing on back] Vol. 3 (43) [M186] My Dear Sir, After soaking all your specimens of Seligeria,
I find a very few plants which have the pedical
straight or nearly so, even when moist. I also see that some plants are
larger than others. I have selected out those with straight pedicels and send
them to you in white papers. These I suppose to be S. calcarea
if calcarea is present at all. I am not able to
find any satisfactory difference in the leaves, either of these straight pediceled ones, or of those named "S. calcarea" by Mr. L. And I lack confidence in the
character on which I have separated these few plants, for Mr. L.'s "S. calcarea"
have curved pedicels when moist as you may see by moistening them. I am
forced to the conclusion that I lack the necessary keenness of sight and
ability to separate these species; or else there is really but one species
present. I dislike to adopt the latter conclusion,
neither would I like to admit the former if the pedicel is always straight in
S. calcarea. Acknowledging my inability to settle
this matter I mail to you all your Seligeria,
except a little reserved for myself, and would suggest that you send the
specimens to Mr. L. for reconsideration and separation. I hope you will come
to Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received March 31 Vol. 3 (45) [M184] My Dear Sir, No 1 Hypnum imponens 2 Aulacomnion heterostichum 3 Mnium cuspidatum 4 Mnium cuspidatum 5 Hypnum rugosum.
He will not fruit. I have never found him in fruit, nor heard of his fruiting
with us. The specimen in the Musci is also sterile. 6 same as 2 7 Leskea rostrata I regret to hear of your indisposition, and hope it will not last
long. I am not very lively myself this spring. The weather does not seem to
be very stimulating. Truly yours Charles H. Peck Received April 19th Vol.
3 (47) [M182] Judge
Clinton Hon.
friend, Say
that I merit a good scolding for having kept you waiting the separation of
those specimens of Seligeria. But do not scold too
hard. I wrote your that, for a while at least, I
would give only part of my Sunday to the dear mosses. And as one of my sons
who lives at I
sent bill according to your direction but it has not been returned yet. It
will come in good time. The setts of the Musci are
going out much quicker than I supposed. Your
friend most respectfully L.
Lesquereux Received
April 18 Vol. 3 (48) [M181] My Dear Sir, I return Mr. L's letter and the specimens of Seligeria
according to your request, having reserved paper No 2 of S. calcarea separated by Mr. L., so that I may have an
authentic specimen for future comparison. I had previously taken out
sufficient of the S. recurvata for myself. I think I can now begin to see the difference between the two
species, after having had it all marked out for me. Especially do I see the
difference in aspect by comparing specimens in the paper marked with a cros + with those specimens separated by Mr. L. as S. calcarea, and were it not for the intermediate or rather
less distinct specimens I should think my ideal of the two species pretty
well formed. But I am pretty well satisfied that the "straight
pedicel" character can not be relied on for the separated specimens
of S. calcarea when soaked curve the pedicel more
or less. Part of the pencil marks on the papers are by Mr. L. part by myself. Those by Mr. L. are
underlined. Have you any entomologists in Most truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received April 22 Vol. 3 (49) [M180] My Dear Sir, Moss from Delaware St. Wood; No 1 Orthotrichum strangulatum 2 Pylaisaea intricata
and a bit of Orthotrichum strangulatum
3 Mnium cuspidatum 4 Bryum intermedium.
It is barely possible that this may be B. cernuum
which is separated from intermedium chiefly by the
mature capsule. B. intermedium is most common,
whence in the absence of ripe capsules I have considered it B. intermedium. 5 Ceratodon purpureus 6 Bartramia pomiformis 7 Hypnum radicale The names so far as given by you in this packet are correct. Yours sincerely Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received April 24 Vol. 3 (54) [M175] My Dear Sir, I was glad to get a specimen of Orthotrichum
anomalum with the calyptra. The specimen of Orthotrichum strangulatum sent
with it is rightly so named by yourself. I have written to Mr. Sprague. Do not think the Mosses are losing
any of their charm, or I any interest in them. I shall find time to look at
all I can get. But I have a restless habit, an insatiable longing to be doing
something, and I can not find moss enough here about to keep me busy, so I
collect insects. Being poor as dirt and somewhat given to "Castle
building" I sometimes imagine that I may in course of time get together
a collection that will be saleable. However that may be I do enjoy the
companionship of the little creatures and regard them as only second in
interest to the mosses. Yours most truly Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received April 30 Vol. 3 (56) [M173] My Dear Sir, I consider the Rev. Mr. Fowler's mosses thus: 1 Bryum wahlenbergii, Schreb. 2 Bartramia 3 Ceratodon purpureus
Brid. 4 Dicranum scoparium
var. pallidum 5 Leskea polycarpa Hedw. 6 Sphagnum squarrosum, Pers. 7Sphagnum cymbifolium, Dill. 8 Climacium americanum,
Brid. I shall be glad to hear directly from Rev. Mr. Fowler. He need have
no fears that the correspondence will be profitless to me, for it I can be of
any assistance to him the pleasure I shall feel in aiding him will be a
sufficient compensation for any trouble it may cost me. Moreover it is
scarcely probable that he will send me a half dozen
packets of mosses without sending some new variety or species which I shall
be glad to have. His location is such that he ought to find something new to
us. Have you relinquished the idea of visiting Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received May 1 Vol. 3 (58) [M171] My Dear Sir, The moss sent by you from "Smoke's Creek, May 5th" is Timmia megapolitana
Hedw. The tardy calyptra is very characteristic. I return a specimen of your moss which I think is fertile Hypnum aduncum.
The card accompanying it is marked "Water (Marsh) F. Lawn, April
30" It I am not mistaken in the species, and I think I am not, this will be a good acquisition, for H. aduncum is manifestly scarce in fruit. All the specimens
of it in the "Musci" of Sulliv. & Lesqx. are sterile. I wish you
would try to get more of it in fruit. It will doubtless be good soon. It was
rather young April 30. I find among your specimens also Hypnum aduncum var. gracilescens. The
form from Truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received May 10 Vol. 3 (67) [M 163] The Mosses of May 5th are 1. Hyp. curvifolium,
sterile Hypnum Muhlenbeckii fertile but fruit too young.
I would remark besides that the leaves are unusually strongly serrate and I
would like to see it again with mature fruit. 2. Dicranum virens.
Not abundant here 3. Hypnum curvigolium 4 Hypnum serpens
var. with a few sterile stems of Mnium and Hypnum laetum. 5 Ceratodon purpureus 6 Funaria hygrometrica 7=5 8=3 9 Pleuridium alternifolium
mostly: some Pottia truncata
and young growth of Ceratodon purpureus,
septd and retd. 10 Bryum caespiticium 11 Mnium cuspidatum 12 Bryum nutans. Mosses of May 11th 1. Contains the little Bryum of last year with his conspicuous male
flowers ‑ the little puzzler. 2 Weissia viridula in fruit; with some of
the same Bryum 3 Here is the key to the
others: a
capsule! oblong‑oval uniting abruptly
with the pedicel, indicating unmistakably Bryum. atropurpureum Web. & Mohr. This species
has been regarded as southern. It was found by Mr. Lesqx.
among the Lookout Mts. of 4 Pleuridium alternifolium
fine specimens 5 = 4 I received this morning a letter from Mr. L. He writes thus
concerning Hyp. noterophilum of which I sent a specimen to him.
"It is indeed Hypnum noterphilum
Sulliv. & Lesqx. in Musci exsiccati
Ed. 1. No. 348. We left aside this species in the 2d Ed. on acount of the polymorphous aspect of it according to its
station. As we did not find it in fruit and as I am absolute against the
publication of any Hypnum spec. nov.
from mere sterile specimens, I could not but advise
the omission of this species." I however think it should not be omitted from our Catalogue. Yours truly Chas H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton P.S. The Hyp. aduncum is the true moss which I hoped you would
find plenty in fruit. The Bryum is not B. Wahlenbergii,
but I can not tell satisfactorily what species it is. Perhaps B. bimum. C. H. P. Recd May 15. [Part of this
letter is faded.] Vol.
3 (68) [M162] Hon.
G. W. Clinton. My
dear Judge No.
1 Pleuridium alternifolium
Br. Eur. var.
fol: brevioribus 2
Same with longer leaves 3
a few leaves of Desmatodon
arenaceus Sull. & Lesq. 4 Bryum caaespiticium male flowers 5
Same as No. 1 Very
glad to see you're writing again but very sorry indeed that you are not quite
well. I worked for you the whole of yesterday (Tuesday) morning. Hope you
were at church praying for me. You would have much to do in that line if you
would undertake my case. The chinese praying
machine would not ever be sufficient. Send more mosses. But if you do not
hear immediately from me do not believe me careless. I must go to Faithfully
yours, L.
Lesquereux Received
May 16 Vol. 3 (72) [M158] My Dear Sir, You really have Climacium americanum in fruit. No 1 Orthotrichum crispulum
probably. This is best separated from crispum when
the fruit is just mature. 2 Fissidens adiantoides 3 Hypnum denticulatum Hickock & Co. had the mosses only in connection with Gray's Manual.
There was, however, only (50) fifty cents difference in the price of the two
before the war. The mosses above being $2, the Manual and Mosses, $2.50 What
they are now I do not know. Yours truly Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received May 19 Vol.
3 (73) [M157] My
dear Judge, This
is indeed H. aduncum, No. 466 of the Musci. I can
see no difference except in the leaves being somewhat longer pointed. I would
like to see a ripe capsule and examine the annulus. May be you can get the
species new or two weeks later. If you get it please send a ripe operculate capsule. Your
letter pains me much. I wish you were quite well. That kind of depression
saddens our life far more than any sickness of the body. It is a consequence
but where to be given the cure I can not help you for I am most of the time
suffering in the same way and can not help myself.
They say a true & strong faith in something gives this strength which
takes us to happiness. Yes! or to a lunatic asylum
also. Nothing will do but mens Who
told you that I was going to [?Tennessee ..., Hennessee
Le.]: I will go for one week or so, in the way of relaxation, to Pennsylvania
to examine some interesting sections of the coal measures; but I do not know
that I will go elsewhere. I am better at home than anywhere else for here at
least I can live quite alone and by myself. If you come this way, do not
forget me and pay me a visit. I will give you the best I have and it is not
much. Your
friend L.
Lesquereux What
is your microscope worth? Do you want any directions for anatomy of the mosses. Shall I send you two sharpened needles with
handles as I use them? I never use anything else in the way of tools except
small [s]cissors for cross sections. Received
May 19th Vol. 3 (74) [M156] My Dear Sir, Mosses from 1 Hypnum radicale
Brid. 2 Hypnum polymorphum,
Bryol. Europ 3 Hypnum Muhlenbeckii
Bryol. Europ. 4 Bryum pyriforme Hedw. 5 Bryum nutans Schreb. 6 Hypnum radicale,
Brid. 7 Hedwigia ciliata,
Ehrh. 8 Hypnum radicale,
Brid. 9 Hypnum Muhlenbeckii,
Bryol. Europ. 10 Hypnum curvifolium,
Hedw. 11 Tetraphis pellucida,
Hedw. 12 Hypnum radicale
Brid. Bryum bimum and a very little Hypnum aduncum (sterile) 13 Mnium serratum probably, but shall need
more specimens to determine it, 14 Hypnum rivulare,
Bryol. Europ. I found a small tuft of Hypnum salebrosum the other day on the dock at Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received May 20 Vol. 3 (75) [M155] My Dear Sir, "A" is Ceratodon purpureus ‑ a very slender growth; the
leaves though distant have the shape costa, areolation &c. of that
species "B" is also as you say C. purpureus. "C" is mostly Funaria hygrometrica var. calvescens.
There is a stem of Bryum with it, also a bit of Ceratodon
sterile. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received May 22 Vol. 3 (77) [M153] My Dear Sir, The two specimens of May 20th are, 1 Seligeria recurvata 2 Mnium serratum with
sterile Leskea rostrata yours truly Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received May 24 Vol. 3 (84) [M146] My Dear Sir, Of the mosses of May 26 from Cazenovia Creek &c., thus. 1 Ceratodon purpureus
Brid. with some Bryum
caespiticium L. 2 Mnium affine Bland. 3 Bryum bimum
Schreb. 4 Bryum bimum with male flowering plants
of Mnium affine. 5 Polytrichum commune L. The
serrate leaves separate it from P. juniperinum 6 Polytrichum formosum
Hedw. 7 bryum bimum
Schreb. 8 Bryum bimum 9 Physcomitrium pyriforme.
Brch. * Schp. You will probably be a little incredulous when you see so many of
your specimens of Bryum lumped together as Bimum:
but if we follow our authorities so it must be. In the "Musci"
specimens of this species I find the long and short capsules and the long and
short pedicels, which are shown in your specimens 4 and 7, 3 and 8. I
formerly thought the longer capsule was a good mark by which B. bimum might be separated from B. intermedium,
but it seems to fail. Dr. Howe has jsut sent me five fruiting
specimens of Hypnum nitens
from Mr. Paine was here yesterday. He is on a botanical trip west. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received June 1 Vol. 3 (87) [M142 & 143 ‑ two papers] My Dear Sir, Mosses from " 1 Weissia viridula 2 Bryum argenteum; also a single sterile
plant of Bryum ‑? 3 Bryum argenteum 4 Physcomitrium pyriforme 5 Bryum caespiticium 6 Bryum caespiticium? I find no male
flowers but suspect the inflrescence to be dioecious: still there is some discrepancy in the leaves
and appearance which makes it doubtful, and a
peculiar form of Bryum caespiticium if it is really
that species. 7 Bryum caespiticium 8 Bryum argenteum and what I have called
Bryum atropurpureum with a doubt, chiefly because
the capsule is inclining to a yellowish color instead of dark red
and the operculum is rather smaller than I would like to see it. This is the
species that I before called Br. atropurpureum and
of which you sent the male flowers last Autumn. The stem and leaves agree
well with those of specimens of atropurpureum in
the Musci and all that is wanting is agreement in capsules. Your suspicion
that it may be a form of Bryum argenteum
is by no means a laughable one and even if it were, it would ill become me to
laugh at it, since I have made so many much more ridiculous mistakes. Bryum atropurpureum and Br. argenteum
are closely related by capsules and inflorescence and when they grow together
it is not strange that they should be confounded by the natural eye. But the
leaves will serve to distinguish them, generally by color, always by shape
and other peculiarities. [two drawings:] Lvs. of Br. argenteum Lvs. of Br. atropurpureum In argenteum they are broader, more
concave, more suddently or abruptly pointed, not
reflexed on the margin, with a fainter costa not excurrent, etc., also
generally more closely imbricating. If our species of Bryum atropurpureum
should not be correctly named, it will probably prove to be a form of B.
caespiticium which it most closely resembles
and which appears to be quite variable. Should you not find it with reddish capsules and rather
large operculum perhaps it would be well to ask Mr. Lesqx.'s opinion of it as it is, sending himalso the male flowers. If you should be fortunate
enough to get such capsules I should not doubt its being Br. atropurpureum. I can not tell where you can find
directions for using the microscope and its accompanying apparatus. I have
never seen any, but have gradually fallen into a homely style of procedure
which I will state so that if there is any good in it you may obtain it. If I wish to examine a peristome; with my hand glass I select one
which appears to be as perfect as possible and with the forceps or in any
convenient way, break it from the plant and place it (capsule with it) on the
glass plate, two of which plates should be with every microscope [little
drawing of the seta and capsule on the slide] Then put a drop or two of water
on it, either by dipping the point of a knife blade in water and quickly
carrying the adherent drop to the capsule or by dipping a small glass tube
open at both ends in water and with the finger over the top or upper end of
the tube carry the water to the capsule. the water
quickly softens it. Then if the capsule is a small one I place the other
glass plate over it and press them gently together so that the water may
spread over the neighboring space, and make a clear view. It may sometimtes be necessary to put an additional drop or two
on the edge of plates when it will immediately flow between them by capillary
attraction. Should the capsule be large and an accurate inspection of the
peristome be desirable, as soon as it is moistened on the glass plate cut the
peristome off by placing the knife blade carefully across the capsule just
below the mouth and as close to it as possible [another drawing showing this
procedure] Then press only the peristome between the plates. If the operculum
has not yet fallen but is nearly ready to, I cut the capsule as above and by
a slight lateral movement of one glass upon the other gradually work the lid
from the peristome. If the capsule is not ripe or nearly so a good view of
the peristome is out of the question, so also if the capsule is too old and
the peristome broken off. For examining leaves: I select a stem or branch as free from dirt as
possible and with the forceps place it on the glass plate, then moisten it as
above with clear water. Then with some sharp pointed instrument (e.g. a
shoemaker's pegging awl or any such thing) in my left hand and my penknife in
my right I scrape from the stem a half dozen or more leaves. [drawing of this procedure] Throwing aside
the stem and putting a drop or two more of water on the leaves and then the
other glass plate above them they are ready for inspection under the
microscope. The instrument ought to be of sufficient power to show the
areolation and costa distinctly. Sometimes I moisten a specimen by putting it
entire in a glass of water. Some species as Orthotrichum
and Racomitrium spread their leaves almost
instantly under the influence of water; others may require two or three
minutes or more. I return No 8 which contained two species: also A & B received
this morning: also A & B of May 18th with their names. If you have enough
of "A May 18" I would like it again as it is as you think "a
remarkable form." Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received June 5 Vol. 3 (89) [M140] My Dear Sir, I consider the two specimens of "June 2, Devils Hole" as Mnium
serratum No 1 and Hypnum
orthocladon No 2. With the last there is some other (sterile) species intermixed,
probably Ceratodon, though I have not examined it
carefully as I suppose the fruiting one is what you especially wished. Very truly yours Charles H. Peck P.S. Mr. Adee was here last Friday. He
expects to collect plants, moss and insects in northern and eastern H. P. Received June 7 Vol. 3 (92) [M137] My Dear Sir, You send No. 1 Trichostomum pallidum
Hedw. & No 2 Dicranum
heteromallum Hedw. Mr. Paine sent me a little Hypnum blandowii in fruit, from So. Herkimer Co.
collected in his recent botanical excursion. I regret that he did not visit
the locality of Hypnum scorpioides.
Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received June 14 Vol.
3 (93) [M136] Friday,
June 15 [1866] Dear
Judge C. I
shall leave here on Monday at four P.M. and will leave at the station in
Buffalo a very small package to remain till called for Your
most grateful Received
June 17 Vol. 3 (96) [M133] My Dear Sir, I do not hesitate to pronounce this specimen you send Bryum atropurpureum. The shape and color of the
capsule is entirely satisfactory, and agrees with the authenticated specimens
of that species in the Musci as you may see by comparing them. To my mind
this is an interesting discovery and reveals the species much farther north
than heretofore. Dr. Howe has sent me from From July 1 to Sept. 1 address me at Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received June 24 Vol. 3 (99) [M130] My Dear Sir, I am glad to know that Mr. Lesqx. confirms our Bryum atropurpureum.
It adds another to our List of N.Y. Mosses, which now numbers 274 species.
Dr. Howe has recently added Meesia tristicha. I can not forbear sending to you a
specimen of this fine moss, with two or three others which I think will be
interesting to you. I expect to leave the city on the 30th inst. to spend two months in Very truly yours Charles H. Peck Judge G. W. Clinton Received June 28 |
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