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RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol. LXXV, Australian and Pacific letters 1859-65, letter no. 132. 61.06.25

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1861-06-25. 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/61-06-25>, accessed April 13, 2025

Melbourne bot. & zool garden
25. june 61
Venerable and dear Sir William.
Having not enjoyed the receipt of any letters during several months either from yourself or Dr Hooker or Prof Harvey, I have but little to write by this mail. Indeed I merely write, that the series of monthly letters, forwarded to Kew since the last 4½ years may not be interrupted.
I have been so absorbed in garden-work within the planting season of this year, that my leisure hours were merely sufficient to attend as Commissioner for the vegetable products to the requirements of the forthcoming exhibition.
1
See B61.13.06.
I think we will have a fair display of fruit casts & timber specimina and, as far as I am able to use my influence, this costly assemblage of articles shall be deposited at Kew.
We are daily engaged in putting the huge collections of dried plants into final order. That done, I can with more ease separate, what can be spared for Kew. If the exhibition duties did not tax my time so greatly, plenty of specimina could have been on the way to you before this. Meanwhile I have sent you an other Wardian Case with really good plants pr Koh-i-noor. The Captain is a most excellent man, who brought in his Cabin without case a fine lot of plants for us from Calcutta.
2
See M to W. Hooker, 25 April 1861.
He has promised to take the Wardian Case into a place free of frost, when rounding Cape Horn & is likely to do every thing else to preserve them; nor does he charge freight. Should this attempt to add to the riches of your noble establishment fail again I will give it up as hopeless to send any more Wardian Cases. But you will perhaps allow me to mention, that I have not one empty wardian Case left, the refilling in various parts of the world taking place with tardiness, and as it is thrice as costly to have them made here than in England, I trust you will kindly allow to have the case filled again, even if its contents should not arrive alife.
3
The remaining text of this letter is taken from an un-numbered sheet bound between letters number 133 and 134. It is placed here on the basis of the related contents of the two MSS. However, letter number 134 (in this edition as 61-06-25b) was written in the same day as this letter.
The following plants are in the Case forwarded June 6th pr. Koh-i-noor.
1
Goodenia
Macmillani F.M.
2
"
amplexans F.M.
1
Coccoloba platyclada

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F.M.
2
Sarcopetalum Harveyanum

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1
Lomaria lanceolata

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Spr.
2 Myoporum hum[i]le Br
1
Hedycarya Pseudomorus

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1
Prostanthera melissifolia

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1
Panax dendroides

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1
Macrozamia Denisonii

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1
Cineraria

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Port Natal.
1
Veronica Hulkeana

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2 Wittsteinia vaccinia[cea] F.M.
2
Poa ramigera

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1
Celastrus Australis

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Harv. [& Mul.]
2
Myoporum oppositifolium

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Br.
1
Hibbertia dentata

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R. Br.
1 Triptomene
4
Thryptomene?
Mitchelliana F.M.
1
Tetragonia implexicoma

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J. Hk.
1
Platycerium grande

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A.C.
under Care of Capt. Guthrie.
5
'The soil of the box was very wet, most of the plants Dead… most of the plants already in the Garden' (RBG Kew, Kew inwards book, 1859-1867, pp 122-3, entry 218 dated 31 October).
In a few weeks I shall, as far as the Exhibition duties permit, resume my botanical labours & I see not that anything material is likely to impede the progress of my work this next summer.
The two plates enclosed are just issued.
6
The plates cannot be specifically identified at RBG Kew.
Abundance of
Araucaria Rulei

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is now purchasable at the Messrs Smith & Adamson of this city.
Is Bentham likely to devote his learning & zeal to an British American Flora?
7
See M to W. Hooker, 25 April 1861.
I have sent a large supply of seeds to Jerusalem.
8
See J. Hooker to M, 20 October 1860.
With my cordial wishes for your health & welfare,
dear Sir William,
yours
Ferd. Mueller