New

2OApril 1948

Miss Alice Eastwood, Academy of Sciences, , California.

Dear Miss Eastwood: In my pursuit of the locoweeds I have long been intrigued and puz-zled "by curious "lost" species, the A. anisus 'Jones. The original spe- cimen was collected ^at Pueblo, Colorado"by Miss Alida Lansing in 1892, and was sent by you to Marcus Jones. The Arkansas valley has been herborized repeatedly in subsecuent years, and Dwight and I have made three separate attempts to rediscover this very Interesting and.anomalous plant, but it still remains Incognito. In your additions to the Flora of Colorado (Zoe 4: 16) you listed the species from near Manoos, but I believe these specimens were either lost in the great fire, or perhaps were mis- identified by Jones - at least I was unable to turn them up at the Academy during my last visit, and found nothing so named at Pomona. I am wondering whether y'ou could give me any information about Miss Lansing, or any hint as to where the Astragalus might be looked for. It seems to me not impossible that the type might have been obtained elsewhere then at Pueblo, possibly on the western slope, and I should be im- mensely grateful if you could recall for me any detail of Miss Lansing's field of activity. Also I feel that any monographic treatment which deals with this species (as I hope to prepare eventually) would be enriched by a note on the Identity of the original collector. I have a feeling of piety, in the classic sense, towards those who had the natural curiosity and intelligence to collect plants in the early days of discovery., and It would be a delight to me. to learn from you, who must have known her, any details that you may recall of the personality and circumstances of Miss Lansing's career. I have hesitated in writing this letter, since it seems unjust to bother you, in vour always busy life, with something which may strike you as trivial. But I feel sure that you will appreciate my interest In boatnist who has enriched the flora of North America by even so modest an item as a milkvetch! After an exceptionally severe winter we 'are enjoying a halcyon spring, lovely warm and quiet weather with a clear and crystalline air that reminds me constantly of the West and prompts me to ignore all responibility and light out for . But there is a chance that we may be unable to make a trip this summer. The route ife all planned, and we are hoping to get up into the the Columbia valley and thence southward, through the Siskiyous and Shasta to Golden Gate Park. But if circumstances prevent, we shall at least make a dash to New Mexico for the fall flora of that enchanting countrv, and there should certainly be a modest contribution to the Academy by winter. With cordial regards, Verv sincerely youBB,

Rupert C. Barnebir