The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne bot Garden ¶ 24/2/65. ¶ ¶ The enclosed plant, dear Mr Bentham, is to bear Mr Edw. Wilson's name. Whether it is a true Eugenia or possibly a Barringtonia or of an other genus I have at this ...

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RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1858-70, f. 161. 65.02.24

Plant names

Acacia adstringens
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Barringtonia
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Caprifoliaceae
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Chamaelaucieae
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Compositae
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Eremopyxis
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Eugenia
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Euphorbiaceae
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Laurineae
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Loranthaceae
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Monochlamydeae
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Myrtaceae
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Nepenthes
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Rubiaceae
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Thryptomene
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Umbelliferae
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to George Bentham, 1865-02-24. 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/65-02-24>, accessed September 11, 2025

Melbourne bot Garden

24/2/65.

The enclosed plant, dear Mr Bentham, is to bear Mr Edw. Wilson's name. Whether it is a true or possibly a or of an other genus I have at this moment, when the mail time is nearly passed, no leisure to ascertain, but I shall with several other novelties (some likewise myrtaceous) include it in the first fascicle of the 5. vol. of the Fragmenta.

M described wilsonii in B65.04.01, p. 12.

Mr Edw Wilson has done so much for Australia that I have long since been anxious to bestow his name on a plant, and thereby to erect for him a monument less perishable than any of marble or bronze. The other shall be sent to you by next mail.

The 30 copies of the vol. II

Of Bentham (1863-78).

have been received, and I have to tender you for the transmission my thanks.

As yet I have been unable to obtain the from the N.E. coast, seen by Carron, but I think it might be mentioned in vol. III.

See Carron (1849), pp 48, 117; B66.02.01, p. 154 which describes a specimen supplied by J. Jardine and mentions Kennedy's expedition of 1848 on which Carron was botanist; and Bentham (1863-78), vol. 6, p. 40.

If , as I believe I said before, were included & and other highly developed orders most wrongly placed amongst , introduced into the 3. volume there would be no need for taking the up for vol. III; indeed they would, if justice is to be done to them, fill a volume by themselfes nearly & all coralliflorae would then occupy the fifth volume. This could all be easily arranged if the descriptive portion of each plant was a little more extended; for really in some instances cardinal characters have been overlooked. — Through the despatch bag goes to Sir Will. Hooker this month

The sentence Through the … Fragm. complete is marked in the margin with a line in the margin , and the lines beginning Through and month are each marked with a cross.

the new vol of illustrations of Victorian plants,

B65.02.06.

(a useful addition to your work for students) also vol IV Fragm. complete — You omitted in vol II as a published synonym.

It is not clear what species M believed was a synonym of A. adstingens. The name has been used for species described by Martius and Schumann & Thonning (See IPNI, accessed 23 April 2020); neither of these appear in Bentham (1863-78), vol. 2. Bentham believed M meant A. astringens, which was listed (p. 362) as a synonym of A. penninervis var falciformis; see G. Bentham to M, 25 April 1865 (in this edition as 65-04-25a).

Your notes on are interesting. Still I do not think that can be upheld, there being too many intermediate forms between it and .

The 'notes' have not been identified; they were probably included in the December 1864 letter from Bentham that has not been found (see G. Bentham to M, 26 February 1865). Bentham (1863-78), vol. 3, p. 57 treated as a synonym of .

The derivation of the latter word I explained on a former occasion.

M to G. Bentham, 25 January 1864 (in this edition as 64-01-25e).

The Ladies of England might surely do something to aid the noble efforts of the Ladies of Victoria on Leichhardts behalf.

i.e. to sponsor the Ladies’ Leichhardt Search Expedition.

The Ladies Committee will be organized & constituted next week.

With the greatest obedience

Ferd Mueller

Will the appearance of my illustrations of Vict plants secure for them a quotation in your genera; personally I claim not such favor, but I do so for the credit of my office & Government.

The beginning of this paragraph is marked with a cross.

The , , , &c have been despatched to you a few weeks since.