Linnaeus thanks Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin for his letter of 24 October{L2597}, saying that he has learnt more from it than from a year’s work. He is particularly pleased to have got the plant Ximenia right, on which Thomas François Dalibard had refused to inform him although he had seen it in Africa.
Comajandura interests Linnaeus specially. He has asked Pehr Löfling to study it for him, but without success. Also somebody else whom Löfling had approached in this matter, had failed. It is depicted by Francisco Hernandez but Linnaeus does not understand the drawing [Linnaeus refers to a work by Hernandez] so he asks Jacquin to help him.
There are about 50 remaining detailed questions and remarks on various plants, among which he reports that his items of Plumbago 2 and Sauvagesia are unlike those sent by Jacquin.
At the end of the letter, Linnaeus asks for Jacquin’s observations on American insects and for information on the publication of Giovanni Antonio Scopoli’s flora [Linnaeus refers to Flora Carniolica] and on the activities of Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer.
Why does Jacquin say that Lobelia longiflora is very poisonous?
Linnaeus is enclosing flowers and seeds of Plumbago, Petiveria and Verbesina.
A letter of 22 November 1759{L2615}, to Gerhard van Swieten is attached.
Other persons mentioned: Sébastien Vaillant, Patrick Browne, Philip Miller