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RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol LXXIV, Australia letters 1851-8, letter no. 157. 57.02.01

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1857-02-01. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/57-02-01>, accessed November 14, 2024

1
The letter as given here is assembled from three locations in the bound guard books. The justification for the placement of each of the other two folios, and a note of their archival location, is given at the appropriate location in the text. The sequence of the final two components is arbitrary; there may also be parts of the letter missing.
Melbourne 1 Febr 1857
My dear Sir William
Just returned from a flying visit to my sisters
2
Clara Wehl lived at Mt Gambier, SA and Bertha Doughty at St Helens, Vic. M's visit began in mid-January 1857. See M to A. Gregory, 14 January 1857.
and prepared to return to Sydney again, I am anxious to despatch a few lines, in order to repeat a few of the principal points of my last letter, in case this should not arrive. I shall however not dwell this time upon the wider topic of our Australian exploration, having with the last mail forwarded a special account of the latter part of the exploration, at least as far as Botany is concerned. I have first to state once more, that your as well as my plan to visit now Europe in order to complete the examination of the newly discovered plants has been for the present frustrated. For altho' both the Gov. General & the Gov. of Victoria
3
William Denison and Henry Barkly.
viewed our application most favourably, I found arrived at Melbourne, when I intended to arrange for my farther prolongation of my leave of absence, that the opinion of the Council & the Colonists is against my leaving, in fact that a renewed absence would likely involve the loss of my position in Victoria. Nevertheless I see for the present no obstacle to proceed to Kew after 2 years, preparing in the meanwhile as a byework the North Australian plants for the press, and publishing part of my Victoria Flora. Thus my position will be consolidated again, and I can finish under you that part of the work, for which here not sufficient materials are at command.
I have particularly to look upon the reconsolidation of my position in this colony, as all other employment would be ephemeral and my health is by far not so firm as I wished and obliges me not to disregard a good fixed position. Moreover it would be ingratitude to the Government & Colonists, to leave instantly again my adopted home, where I have been so kindfully and flattering remembered, where my absence on many public occasions has been regretted, where I was received again with marked kindness and respect. A new three-roomed cottage has been built for me,
4
A cottage, the first stage of today's Gardens House, was constructed in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens for M between October and December 1856, at a cost of £426 (Unit 5, VPRS 69, Public Record Office, Victoria).
my salary has been augmented to 600£ annually,
5
In the estimates presented to the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 4 December 1856, M's salary as Government Botanist, for six months, was given as £300. See Victoria, Legislative Assembly (1856) Estimates of the revenue and expenditure of the Government of Victoria for the year 1857, Melbourne, p. 58.
so that I see now a fair prospect of saving a little for days of need. During the last four or five years I had no time to look after my private-affairs, which consequently went nearly to ruin.
In Sydney I intend to label the plants from North Australia more correctly and to copy the rough notes for transmission to the Government.
With the last mail I took the liberty of forwarding to you a bill of exchange for 25£. I beg now to transmit the secunda and hope you will pardon me, if I ask from your kindness to order for me through your bookseller such books, as you, Sir William, deem requisite, for the furtherance of my labours on the North Australian plants. Undoubtedly I require Hook & Thompsons flora Indica.
6
J. Hooker & Thomson (1855).
I pray also for the transmission of a simple microscope , such as you recommend to your scholars and as Prof. Harvey used here for general analyses of plants. The bye following list shows what books I possess. I do not know whether Seemans new publication
7
Possibly Seemann (1852). Although dated 1852 on the title page, this work was issued in parts with the final, 10th part issued in May-June 1857. The final parts contained a 'Flora of the Island of Honkong', pp. 347-432.
will aid me. Works on Cryptogamia are at present of little use to me, as I can not afford time for their study except for ferns, and for these the wanting part of your excellent spec. filic.
8
W. Hooker (1846-64).
would be highly acceptable. I think the works on Indian plants previous to Walpers
9
Walpers (1848-71).
I may dispense with, as his extracts are tolerably complete. Bauers illustrationis florae Novae Hollandiae
10
Bauer (1813).
& also his or your genera filicum
11
W. Hooker (1842) is based on the illustrations by Bauer.
I think I should desire. [...]
12
illegible — [two words] obscured by binding.
& spec. orchideaceum
13
Possibly Lindley (1830-40).
farther your Icones vol V VI VII VIII IX.
14
W. Hooker (1836-54).
I hope that at my return to Sydney the schooner will have arrived with the collections from the Victoria River & Central Australia, so that I may be able to absolve the work by May or June, when I must immediately return. It seems to be the intention of the Government to invest me with the Directorship of the Bot. gardens,
15
Not until August; T. Balmain to M, 13 August 1857.
to which establishment I stood formerly in a somewhat ambiguous position, being merely an official member of the Committee. I hope that this alteration will be productive of a more extensive interchange of plants with other institutions. Our new glasshouse is erected and ready to receive coldhouse-plants.
16
Conservatories were constructed in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens in 1856 at a cost of £305 (Unit 1, VPRS 957, Public Record Office, Victoria).
In the limestone caves of Mount gambier (Colony of South Australia) I found a few days ago
Cibotium Billardierii

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. This is likewise the most western locality, I am aquainted with, of
Gentiana montana

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&
Sambucus Gaudichaudiana

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.
17
The MS as bound in the archives ends here without valediction. The next section of the letter given here is bound within the sheets of M to W. Hooker, 17 September 1860 (in this edition as 60-09-17a) (Directors' letters, vol. LXXV, Australian and Pacific letters, 1859-65, letter no. 127). A date of 1860 for this folio is unlikely because of the references to Hannaford in the final parts of the letter, and because in M to W. Hooker, 11 June 1857 (in this edition as 57-06-11a), M mentions receiving the work by de Vriese that he had ordered. The fragment is placed with this letter because it is a list of books, presumably intended to guide Hooker in fulfilling M's request to augment his library.
Books in my possession (besides many smaller or less important ones)
18
The botanical works referred to by M are: J. Hooker (1844-7), J. Hooker (1853-5), J. Hooker (1860), of which the first fascicle was issued in 1855; the 'Hooker Journals' are W. Hooker (1827-64), W. Hooker (1830-3), W. Hooker (1834-42), W. Hooker (1842-8), W. Hooker (1849-57); Endlicher (1836-40) and Endlicher (1842-50); A. P. de Candolle (1823-73); A. P. de Candolle (1818-21); Walpers (1842-8); Walpers (1848-71); Endlicher (1847); Endlicher (1833); Kunth (1833-50); R. Brown (1825-34); Mitchell (1848); Lehmann (1844-7); Labillardière (1804-6); Endlicher (1838); Endlicher & Fenzl (1839); Guillemin (1827); G. Don (1831-8); W. Hooker (1846-64); 'Huegel' probably refers to Endlicher et al. (1837); W. Hooker (1836-54), W. Hooker (1818-20); Steudel (1855); Schlechtendal (1826-66).
J. Hk. flor. antarctic. (complete)
J. Hk — N. Zeel. (complete)
J. Hk. — Tasm. fasc. I & II
Hook. journals complete as far as 1855 inclusive.
Endl. genera [c]. suppl. I-V.
DC prodr. I-XIII.
DC syst. I-II.
Walp. repert. (complete)
— annales (complete)
Endl. synops coniferr.
— flor. Norfolk.
Kunth Enum I-V
R Br [vermischte b] Schriften, I-V.
Mitch. trop. Austr.
Lehm. pl. Preiss
Labill. Nov. Holl.
Endl. iconograph.
— decades
Guillemin icon. lithogr.
Don gen. syst.
Hook spec. filic. Vol I & fasc. I & II of the second vol.
Plant. Huegelian.
19
Plant. Huegelian. interlined, probably by W. Hooker; i.e. Endlicher et al. (1837).
Hook. icon. I-IV & X
(5. 6. 7. 8. 9. wanting)
Hook. musci exotici
[Steudl] synops. pl. glumac.
Linnaea (partim)
—
I have lately ordered through my booksellers.
Putterlick Pittosporeae
Fl. Tasm. continuatio
De Vriese Goodeniaceae
Miq. Casuarineae
As. Gray Bot. of Wilk. expl.
Horsfield & Bennett pl. javan. rarior.
Steudel nomenclator
Dr Sonder intends to send Pritzels works & Endl. atakta.
I shall have access in our public library to Bot. Magazin, Bot. Regist., Bot. Cabinet; at least I ordered these works. —
Wight icones plant. Ind. or & Wallich plant. [asiat.] rariores I intend to order for the University library.
20
The works referred to are: Putterlick (1839); J. Hooker (1860) of which the first fascilce was issued in 1855; Vriese (1851), of which the first part was issued in 1849 and the second in 1850, or Vriese (1854); Miquel (1848); A. Gray (1854); Horsfield, Bennett & Brown (1838-52); Steudel (1840-1); probably Pritzel (1851) and Pritzel (1855); Endlicher (1833a); Curtis (1787-1800), probably also including the continuation as Curtis's botanical magazine by Sims (1801-26); S. Edwards (1815-28), probably also including the continuation as Edwards's botanical register by Lindley (1829-47); Loddiges (1817-33); Wight (1840-53); Wallich (1830-2).
In case of the transmission of a small pamphlet on the plants of Victoria by Mr Hannaford published during my absence, I feel it my duty to mention, that it is virtually a copy of my first report with habitats copied for all rarer kinds from the Gov. Collection, which Mr H. omits to state on any occasion.
21
Hannaford (1856), p. 4, explains that his aim is 'to give an index of the more common Phaenogamous or flowering plants and ferns, with their habitats and dates of flowering, from specimens in our own herbarium — referring our readers for more full information, to the reports of our esteemed friend, Dr. Ferdinand Mueller, the Government Botanist, on the Vegetation of the Colony'.
On 10 November 1856 Hannaford wrote to R. Gunn: 'I am fully aware of the shortcomings of my little work — but the management of a Bank (working often as late as 10 at night) rather interferes with Natural history Studies. I sincerely wish all the plants had been introduced — but I merely intended it as a forerunner to Muëllers large work. He was very indignant when he heard some 2 years since of my intention to publish a work of the kind, and even threatened to prevent my having access to the Government collection for comparison. This thoroughly disgusted me as it was only at his request & knowing that he was working at the Flora of the colony — that prevented my forwarding all my specimens to Sir William Hooker as he requested. I worked very hard for Muëller when in Melbourne — prepared his papers for the press &c. I did not make my Book as far as I might have done simply — that Mueller should not even hint of my having made use of information derived in any way from working with him: & only gave those plants which were thoroughly examined — from my own herbarium' (A247 Gunn papers, Mitchell Library, Sydney).
It must seem consequently, that Mr H was the discoverer of all these rare plants, whilst he never saw any but those about Melbourne & Warrnambool, and never added a single spec. to the collection except
Botrychium Australe

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, if really distinct from B. Lunaria. — He found also the first specimen of
Damasonium Australe

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(Actinocarpus carpus minor) but does not hesitate to give my remark on the normal number of 9 carpels as his own. — I should consider it below my dignity to mention this at all, might not Dr — —,
22
Hannaford (1856) is dedicated to 'John Milner Barry, Esq., M.D … as a memorial of pleasant summer rambles.' See Ducker (1981), p. ix.
to whom the work is dedicated imagine, that I had withdrawn the merits from Mr H., should he afterwards meet with the pages of the Flora of Victoria. All Mr H's plants were determined by myself. I beg, Sir William, you will consider this a private communication, unless Mr H's product should come before the public in England, for anyone a little versed in Botany might [here] before a public, which does not understand the merits of the case, do me a great deal of harm.
[...]
23
An unknown amount of text is missing. The remainder of the letter is written on a sheet of blue paper bound with M to W. Hooker, 14 June 1858 (Directors' letters, vol. LXXIV, Australia letters 1851-8, letter no. 181). The folio could not have been written in June 1858 because M wrote to J. Tenison Woods on 19 June 1858 that he was 'so overwhelmed with administrative work in this large establishment, that I cannot find even a few days, to go with the Steamer to my sister near Port Fairy' and
Tetragonella implexicoma

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would be most unlikely to be in fruit in June (see VICFLORA, under Tetragonia implixicoma, https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/ (accessed 31 July 2018)). M reports preparing some comments on J. Hooker's Tasmanian Flora, and his only known visit to the Port Fairy district at a time consistent with this fragment is in January 1857. See n. 2.
Near Port Fairy
24
Vic.
I examined a few days ago the flowers of
Tetragonella implexicoma

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once more in a recent state. I find them constantly hermaphrodite, with 2 or 3 styles and a 2-or-3 celled ovary. Fruit was not ripe, but it is a red spherical berry.
25
See M to W. Hooker, 15 December 1857.
I gave a short memoir in my last letter on the two first fascicles of Fl. Tasm.,
26
J. Hooker (1860), the first two fascicles of which were published in October 1855 and May 1856.
in which Dr Hooker has been kind enough to speak so favourably on some of my labours.
27
For example see J. Hooker (1860), part 1, p. 2, with reference to Caltha, and p. 153 with reference to Hydrocotyle pterocarpa.
I pray to be permitted to direct the attention of its excellent author to the following points.
Tripterococcus spathulatus

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is adopted by Schuchhardt;
28
Schuchardt (1853a), p. 29, based inter alia on a specimen sent by M to W. Sonder. M independently published this species based on different specimens (B54.13.06). In his 'Additions, corrections etc.' Joseph Hooker acknowledged that he had not seen 'the elaborate monograph of Schuckhardt' when he drew up his original account. See J. Hooker (1860), part 2, p. 359.
if it can not be separated from
Stackhousia

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, th[e]n all the other sp. must be reduced to
Stackhousia

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.
Clematis linearifolia

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is undoubtedly C. microphylla DC. Ranunc. rivularis, inundatus & glabrifolius I have traced into each other, and R. Pumilio into R. sessiliflorus. Dr Hooker has to insert into the Supplement Browns
Draba Pumilio

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(I think that is the name) described in DC from V.D.L. I found the cotyledons of
Hutchinsia procumbens

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in cumbent, consequently it belongs to that part of the genus conferred by Meyer, Koch &c to Capsella, whilst the accumbent sp. are referred to Thlaspi.
Hutchinsia Australis

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will probably prove identical with
Capsella antipoda

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Vict. transact.
Viola Sieberi

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I have watched for years and can not refer it to V. hederacea. Hymenanth. Banksii is a collective name for H. angustif.
29
Hymenanthera angustifolia

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.
& dentata, which I have seen clearly in all intermediate forms, none of the specif. names agreeing with the species properly.
Tetratheca Gunnii

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[&] procumbens seem to be identical with T. calva (vid. Schuchh.
30
Schuchardt (1853), p. 25.
) Scleranth. fasciculiis a var. of sc. biflor.
31
Scleranthus and S. biflorus.
—
Halothamnus microphylla

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, unfortunately referred to
Euphorbiaceae

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— is dioecious. Hyper. Japonic.
32
Hypericum japonicum

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.
Flowes into H. [graminuem] and so does G. pontentilliodes in Geran.
33
Geranium.
dissectum & whilst G. brevicaule is an excellent sp. Pelarg.
34
Pelargonium.
Australe & Acugn.
35
Pelargonium acugnaticum?
do in my opinion not specifically differ.
Roepera

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has upon the examination of 9 sp. been referred to Zygophyllum, and I can not change my opinion. Zygoph. foetid.
36
foetidum.
from the C.G.H
37
Cape of Good Hope.
would be
Roepera

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. I am not aware that Dr Sonder has written on the subject.
Boronia dentigera

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is very remarkable for rough seeds; I possess it from Tasmans Peak V.D.L. communicated & collected by Stuart. Of Pult.
38
Pultenaea?
bossiaeoides
39
Pultenaea bossiaeoides

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not found (APNI, accessed 29 August 2019). P. baeckeoides?
are V.D.L. & South Austr. specim. in my collection. Is not Boss.
40
Bossiaea.
cordigera identical with Boss. horizontalis.
Goodia polysperma

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is
Argyrolobium

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sp. C.G. H.
Psoralea Gunnii

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seems to be Ps. adscendens, first gen. rep.
41
B53.10.01.
Swainsona

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is according to G. Don not named after the late Will. Swainson, but may now commemorate his memory also.
42
Swainsona

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was named 'in honour of Isaac Swainson F.R.S. F.L.S who was a great cultivator of plants'. See G. Don (1831-8), vol. 2, p. 245. William Swainson died in 1855.
Zichya Latrobeana

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is a plant of Meisner (Lehm. pl. Preiss,
43
Lehmann (1844-7), p. 94, first footnote, in Meisner's treatment of the Leguminosae.
adnt.) and
Leptocyamus Latrobeanus

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second gen. rep.
44
B55.10.01.
— All the endless Australian forms of
Epilobium

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I feel obliged to refer to one species. I fear my
Calandrinia pygmaea

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is
Talinum nanum

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Nees. — Calandr. calyptrata seem common in W. Austr. according to Preiss, also in S. A. & Vict. A Mitchellian
45
From the collections of Thomas Mitchell.
specimen of
Calandrinia Balonensis

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proves it to be a most beautiful large flowering plant. I have not found it, but two other very distinct sp. in trop. Austral.
46
Possibly two of C. uniflora (B59.13.02), C. spergularina (B59.09.03), C. quadrivalvis (B59.09.03).
There is also an other sp. at Port Adelaide different from the 3 West Australian ones, besides a second one that I have not seen, found by Sir Th. Mitchell.
47
C. pusilla; see Mitchell (1848), p. 360, footnote.
A plant from the Nicholson River, Gulf of Carpentaria,
48
Possibly C. spergularina (B59.09.03).
may be identical with Calandrinia calyptrata. I shall reexamine
Bauera sessiliflora

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, but I believe it to be well marked from
Bauera Billardiera

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in anthers &c., [...]
49
two illegible words.
of Fl. Victor.
Microsciadium

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H. f. non-Boiss. is
Oschatzia

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Walp.