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RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol. LXXV, Australian and Pacific letters 1859-65, letter no. 149. 62.04.24f

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1862-04-24 [62.04.24f]. 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/62-04-24f>, accessed April 28, 2025

1
MS black-edged; M's sister Bertha died on 7 September 1861.
Melb. bot. Garden,
24/4/62
Dear Sir William.
I have to acknowledge your friendly communications of 3 different dates by last mail,
2
Letters not found.
and am obliged indeed for all the interest you continue to evince towards my labours & for your manyfold tokens of kindness, crowned by the dedication of the last truly splendid vol of the bot. Magazine, a kindness which I shall ever vividly bear in mind & for which I repeat my best thanks.
3
See notes to M to W. Hooker, 24 March 1862 (in this edition as 62-03-24b).
I send a few novelties —
Symplocos

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will interest you. I think Dr Wights view is best, to place the
Symploceae

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near
Caprifoliaceae

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or near some order allied to
Myrtaceae

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.
4
The systematic position of
Symplocos

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, in Styraceae, is discussed in Wight (1846-51), vol. 2, p. 37, where its closeness to Ebenaceae is emphasised. The nature of the genus is discussed in Wight (1840–53), vol. 4, pp. 10 -11, without assessing its broader systematic position.
From Mr Bentham I have not heard during the last two or three mails. Probably he is on the continent.
5
From the time Bentham wrote to M on16 November 1861, except for the period 23 December 1861 to 7 January 1862 he was in London working at Kew and at the British Museum (acknowledged in M to G. Bentham, 24 January 1862) until August 1862 (RBG Kew, Bentham diary, Ms. 17, 1861-5. BEN).
I feel however sure, that after the arrival of my first consignment of plants, which must have now reached him, I shall enjoy monthly his communications. I am for instance not quite certain in what succession he may require the various orders of
Thalamiflorae

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, which are so numerous. The fourth case will go by the "Orwell" this week & contains
fasc.
Bixaceae

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& Cochlosperm
1
Elatineae

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1
Elaeocarpeae

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2
Tiliaceae

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(verae)
1
Zygophylleae

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1
Polygaleae

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2
Malpighiaceae

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1
Tremandreae

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2
Sclerantheae

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1
Oxalideae

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1
Lineae

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1
Caryophyll.(verae)
1
Geraniaceae

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1
Total pr Orwell
16
By the Dover Castle on the 27. March I sent, under the special care of the surgeon Dr Thomson
Violarinae

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Fasc
1
Rutaceae

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17
Total pr Dover Castle
18.
I wrote by the ships mail; so as I have no bill of loading I hope Mr Bentham will kindly secure the box at once after the arrival of the Dover Castle , as the agents & owners of the ship would not be responsible for it.
Mr Bentham will find the long series of forms of
Rutaceae

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instructive in the highest degree.
I have relinquished my seat in the Council of our Royal Society, where I was Office bearer ever since 1854, when I aided in the formation of the Society; also my seat in the Explor. Committee, merely to gain more time & taking a more prominent share in Benthams work. I would like to work up some orders myself, as far as my material goes, which could then easily be completed by Mr Bentham. Perhaps I take up
Myrtaceae

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&
Rhamnaceae

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. I might also work up the
Sapindaceae

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& some more orders of
Thalamiflorae

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, if I had Dr Hookers genera plantarum
6
Bentham & Hooker (1862-83).
in time. I would be so glad, if I could obtain in a similar way proofsheets, as Dr Hance received the Hong Kong flora, both of the genera plantarum & the Austral. flora.
There will be 3 or 4 cases yet of
Thalamiflorae

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to send, and then it will be perhaps necessary to send the supplemental collections, which are rapidly accumulating. Whether I should work out these here (after receipt of proof sheets) or whether I should send them finally also, will be for Mr Benthams consideration.
The bountiful supply of herbaceous seeds was brought by Mr G. M'Leay himself & indeed I am thankful for so large a variety of species new to our Garden. The Nile papyrus seems to have died on its way to Sydney but I am promised to receive part of the other waterplants from Mr W. S M'Leay.
7
Letters not found.
Would you kindly give me your opinion on the supposed new Bixineous genus enclosed. That the genus
Sturtia

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is only a subgenus of
Gossypium

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you will observe by the enclosed fragments.
Sir Ch. Nicholson went home and passed through Melbourne, without my having had an opportunity to bid him farewell. I am usually so absorbed in my departmental work, that I do not learn of any visits of distinguished men.
The living plants per Suffolk and by overland mail (the latter under Mr M'Leays care) I hope will reach you in safety.
Ever yours
Ferd Mueller