Clark: February 12, 1806
A Clatsop man visited Fort Clatsop bringing three dogs as compensation for elk his people had stolen earlier, but the dogs ran off in alarm; the visitor was allowed to stay overnight in the fort. Clark devoted most of the entry to detailed botanical descriptions of two evergreen shrubs found in the area, noting their stems, leaves, leaflets, thorny margins, and growth habits. He first encountered one species at the Columbia's grand rapids and compared it to the mountain holly common in parts of the United States. Neither plant's flowers or fruit were known to him.
Wednesday February 12th 1806. This morning we were visited by a Clatsop
man who brought with him three dogs as a remuneration for the Elk which
himself and Nation had Stolen from us Some little time Sence, however the
dogs took the alarm and ran off; we suffered him to remain in the fort all
night.
There are two Species of evergreen Shrubs. this is the leaf of one which I
first met with at the grand rapids of the Columbia River, and which I have
sence found in this neighbourhood also; they usially grow in rich dry
ground not far from Some water course. the roots of both Species are
creeping and celindric. the Stem of the first (as above) is from a foot to
18 inches high and as large as a Goose quil; it is Simple and erect. its
leaves are cauline, and Spredding. the leafits are jointed & oppositly
poinnate 3 par and termonateing in one, cessile widest at the base and
tapering to an accuminated point, an inch and 1/4 the greatest width;
& 31/4 inches in length. each point of their crenate margins armed
with a thorn or Spine, and are from 13 to 17 in number. they are also
veined, glossy, corinated and wrinkled; their points obliquely pointing
towards the extremity of the Common footstalk.
The Stem of the 2nd is procumbent about the Size of the former, jointed
and umbracated. it’s leaves are Cauline, compound and oppositly pointed;
the rib from 14 to 16 inches long Celendric and Smooth the leafits 21/2
inches long and 1 inch wide. the greatest width 1/2 inch from their base
which they are regularly rounded, and from the Same point tapering to an
accute apex, which is mostly but not entirely termonated with a Small
Subulate thorn. they are jointed & oppositly pointed consisting of 6
par and termonateing in one (in this form) sessile, Serrate, or like the
teeth of a whipsaw, each point terminateing in a small subulate spine,
being from 25 to 27 in numbr; veined, Smoth, plane and of a deep green,
their points tending obliquely towards the extremity of the rib or common
footstalk. I do not know the fruit or flower of either. the 1st resembles
a plant Common to maney parts of the United States Called the Mountain
Holly
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Wednesday, February 12th, 1806. This morning we were visited by a Clatsop man who brought with him three dogs as repayment for the elk which he and his nation had stolen from us a little while ago. However, the dogs took alarm and ran off. We allowed him to remain in the fort all night.
There are two species of evergreen shrubs. This is the leaf of one which I first met with at the Grand Rapids of the Columbia River, and which I have since found in this neighborhood also. They usually grow in rich, dry ground not far from some watercourse. The roots of both species are creeping and cylindrical. The stem of the first (as above) is from a foot to 18 inches high and as large as a goose quill; it is simple and erect. Its leaves are cauline (growing on the stem) and spreading. The leaflets are jointed and oppositely pinnate, three pairs and terminating in one, sessile, widest at the base and tapering to an acuminated point, an inch and 1/4 the greatest width, and 3 1/4 inches in length. Each point of their crenate margins is armed with a thorn or spine, and they are from 13 to 17 in number. They are also veined, glossy, coriaceous, and wrinkled; their points obliquely pointing toward the extremity of the common footstalk.
The stem of the second is procumbent, about the size of the former, jointed and imbricated. Its leaves are cauline, compound, and oppositely pointed; the rib is from 14 to 16 inches long, cylindrical and smooth, the leaflets 2 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide. The greatest width is 1/2 inch from their base, where they are regularly rounded, and from the same point tapering to an acute apex, which is mostly but not entirely terminated with a small subulate thorn. They are jointed and oppositely pointed, consisting of 6 pairs and terminating in one (in this form), sessile, serrate, or like the teeth of a whipsaw, each point terminating in a small subulate spine, being from 25 to 27 in number; veined, smooth, plane, and of a deep green, their points tending obliquely toward the extremity of the rib or common footstalk. I do not know the fruit or flower of either. The first resembles a plant common to many parts of the United States called the mountain holly.
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