Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M4, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 63.01.17

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

George Bentham to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1863-01-17. 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/63-01-17>, accessed April 19, 2025

Kew
London Jany 17/63
My dear Sir
I write to you again without having heard from you because I am going over this evening to Paris for a few days and the mail will be gone before I return. I have quite finished
Rutaceae

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and have gone over a good many of your supplemental parcels and shall have a large portion of my MS ready to put into the printer's hands at the end of the month but before that there are a few species that can only be verified at Paris which is the object of my going there.
I have found among Sonder's plants received from you a few which are not in your own collection for instance the Melodorum Leichhardti[i]
1
Ending indecipherable at edge of page. Species named as M. Leichhardtii in Bentham (1863-78), vol. 1, p. 52.
(your
Unona Leichhardtii

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) of which there are specimens in flower and in good fruit (further advanced than those you described) from your own collections on the Brisbane — also a
Menispermaceae

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from Quail Island We had it but all the flowers were dropped off. Sonder's specimen however (male like ours) retained flowers which enabled me to ascertain as far as one can without the females that it is a true Pachygone near ovata but with an additional series of sepals or bracts — I have at last found out that Miers'
Pleogyne

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is my
Microclisia

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so that name must replace mine.
I think
Hyptiandra

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must go into
Simarubea

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.
I am much puzzled about Citrus the globular fruits which you had separate are those of the Limonia australes A. Cunn consequently
Citrus australis

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Planch a true Citrus Cunningham's specimens have the fruit in situ on a branch with broad leaves much as you have one specimen. The curious long narrow fruits which you have with your narrow-leaved specimens must belong to a distinct species and the narrow-leaved specimens in flower have all 20 or more stamens. There are no flowers on the broadleaved ones but Cunningham notes that he found one only which had only 10 stamens. At present therefore till further information I think that C. australis Planch and C. Australasica F. Muell must stand as distinct species.
I expect to give to the printer all to the end of
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early in February so that I can keep him going at the rate of 2 or 3 sheets per week till it is done — that will give 3 or 4 months for printing the volume — As I am anxious to know whether you approve the title page before it is finally struck off I have had it set up and enclose you a proof — As to the text I shall send you clean proofs by each mail of what has been printed off but I do not suppose that any will be ready till the March mail.
I have had two boxes packed containing the greater portion of your
Rutaceae

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— also
Tiliaceae

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Sterculiaceae

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and some smaller orders — they are having them soldered up and they will be sent in a day or two to the agent to forward — but I shall not be able to send you the bill of lading till next mail.
Ever yours sincerely
George Bentham
Dr F. Mueller