Linnaeus answers Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin that he wrote a reply to the letter of 26 May 1762{L3110} on the day of its arrival and that the matter should be checked with the post office.
In that letter, Linnaeus had thanked for the copy of the flora [Linnaeus refers to Enumeratio stirpium plerarumque] he had received and also for the excellent material on the American plants. He has now safer ground to stand on but makes some comments, especially on Androsace.
Linnaeus wonders on the best way to send Jacquin a copy of part 1 of the Species plantarum, which is ready.
Linnaeus regrets that he had not received the more detailed information on Heisteria or Borbonia earlier. He wonders: How can Heisteria be so like Laurus without being a Laurus? Are Charles Plumier’s and Mark Catesby’s delineations correct? – Linnaeus had seen that plants may form new variants by cross-breeding, but he can not quite apply this to the present case with Heisteria.
Other important information from Jacquin on Peltaria and Solidago alpina is acknowledged; Linnaeus promises to include it in an appendix to Species plantarum.
In closing, Linnaeus mentions that there had never appeared so many new botanical books as now and that the additions of new species of animals is almost beyond what Linnaeus can manage.
[2004-07-11]