Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1858-70, ff. 185-7. 65.12.06a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Hooker, 1865-12-06 [65.12.06a]. 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/65-12-06a>, accessed April 21, 2025

6/12/65
I have sent, dear Dr Hooker, by the Roxburgh Castle under favor of Capt Dinsdale a box with tubers of terrestrial
Orchideae

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,
1
tubers …
Orchideae

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is marked in the margin with a cross.
according to a desire expressed by you.
2
See J. Hoooker to M, 2 May 1865.
While naming a number of Orchids this spring I placed my whole collection into order & find that in all Australia not more than about 120 species can be reckoned to exist. Some brief notes you find on them in my fragmenta.
3
B65.11.01, pp. 93-102.
Lyperanthus suaveolens

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, you will observe, is also a Tasmanian plant. Of the
Mesembryanthemum Australe

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4
Mesembryanthemum Australe

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is marked in the margin with a cross.
I send you a small curious variety, which covers uninterruptedly as an extensive carpet very many square yards of ground in subalpine depressions & forms a most beautiful red & green carpet when in flower, the rosy tint being visible for miles. I fancy the variety would be hardy in the South of England. Living plants have been forwarded to you recently on two distinct occasions.
I trust the British Government will now secure the noble collection, which your lamented great father accumulated as a private property at Kew, and not allow his descendents to have no pecuniar benefits from the monetary outlay and labouring toil which (I know it as well as any one) the acquirement of such treasures absorbs
5
William Hooker's herbarium, library and correspondence were left by will to his son, Joseph, but with the suggestion that they be purchased by the State. The material was purchased for £7,000 and deposited at the Royal Gardens at Kew (Allan (1967), pp. 216-7). See also J. Hooker to M, 1 March 1866.
I gave my private collection, commenced in my 14th year in Denmark away as a donation to this establishment; though the private expense incurred for the Australian portion especially is absolutely incredible & well nigh ruinous. Such sacrifices no one should be compelled to make, who like you as a father of a florishing family has [next] of all paternal obligations to fulfill. Can a letter of mine on this subject to Earl Russell be of any utility to you?
I sent your worthy father a piece of a frond of the only Cyathea, hitherto known to exist in the Austral Continent. Would you have the friendliness
6
Cyathea … friendliness is marked in the margin with a cross.
to compare it with any existing species.
7
Hooker was unable to find the specimen. See J. Hooker to M, 1 March 1866.
I was anxious to attach the noble Edw. Wilsons name to the species, his philanthropic labours concerning especially Victoria & calling for this reward among plants of Victoria. I suppose you took notice of the descriptions of N. Z. plants furnished in 1862 by Turczaninow in the Moscou Bulletin from S. Edw. Home's collections.
8
Sir James Everard Home. See Turczaninow (1862).
Would you like to see my N. Z. herbarium before you publish the second volume of your Manual?
9
Hooker (1864-7). Hooker declined the offer; see J. Hooker to M, 1 March 1866.
Some notes on N. Z.
Aster

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s occur in the fascicles of the fragmenta now sent.
10
B65.10.04, pp. 65-71, and B65.11.01, pp. 73-88.
Dendrobium Tattonianum

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of the Bot Mag 5537 is what I introduced as D. canaliculatum into the 3 vol of the fragmenta.
11
B62.10.02, p. 126. (See comment in B66.13.01, p. 211).
I cannot help thinking that RBr's description of the labellum (perhaps after an imperfect and certainly after a dry specimen) is inaccurate and that this is the very plant of Banks.
D. Johannis is nearest to D. undulatum.
The Rev Mr Leightons letter came back to me after 6 month; pray allow me to send it to you to be correctly adressed.
12
Presumably M to W. Leighton, 26 July 1865 (in this edition as 65-07-26c).
I should be so glad to afford my dear almost paternal friend Edward Wilson any little pleasure now while he is undergoing the cataract operation successively on both eyes. Among Victorian plants I had of late only one sufficiently noble to bestow his name on. This is the only Cyathea from the Australian Continent. Would you favor me by comparing the small pinna I sent to your lamented father with all the forms of C. medelluris & its allies & let me know the result. If it is favorable this fern tree can be offered to Mr Wilson as an elegant souvenir at his next birthday.
It will be worthy of your inspection the great Meteorite at the British Museum
13
See Lucas et al. (1994).
Tubers of orchids sent by Roxburgh Castle. 6./12./65.
14
The list fills p. 1 of f. 187. The remaining text begins on p. 2 of the folio.
4. Thelymitra sp.
5. Caladenia sp.
9. "Menziesii Br
11.
Corisanthes fimbriata

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15
Corysanthes?
12.
Prasophyllum flavum

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13. "elatum Br
14.
Pterostylis cucullata

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Br
18.
Thelymitra aristata

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Lindl.
19.
Calochilus campestris

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Br
23.
Lyperanthus nigricans

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Br
24.
Thelymitra Macmillani

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Ferd Muell.
25. "carnea Br
27.
Microtis atrata

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Lindl
28. "viridis Ferd Muell.
34.
Diuris sulphurea

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Br
37. "maculata Smith
39. various sp. mixed.
16
The tubers were entered in Kew Inwards Book, 1859-1867 (RBG Kew, Kewensia), p. 288, entry 61, 23 March 1866, where it was noted that they were sent in a 'small box' and 'packed in ashes[.]some were loose in the ashes'.
I hope the large turf of
Xanthorrhoea minor

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did well arrive; the plant ought to be a great acquisition.
17
See M to J. Hooker, 25 October 1865 (in this edition as 65-10-25a), and J. Hooker to M, 1 March 1866.
Through Mr W Joffrey, a school companion of yours I have sent within the last days a box with the small variety of Mesembryanthem
18
Mesembryanthemum?
Australe, which actually forms a purple carpet over our depressed subalpine meadows when in flower. Nothing indeed of the kind could be more beautiful & I wished this variety could be sent for naturalisation to the Mediterranean shores. I have sent also again plants of the rarely seeding
Tetragonia implexicoma

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, which I employ on account of its enormous size & climbing habit for covering the iron bowers of the establishment It ought to be in every south european garden & may be hardy in Britain. Rev. Mr Lightons
19
Leighton?
letter written by me was returned after 6 month; it seems he changed his abode. Will you kindly forward it
I rejoyce that you are recovered from your severe illness & that the great Kew establishment is under so able and so worthy an administration as yours. All what lies in my power, whether in an official or in a private capacity, shall be done to render myself useful to you. Command my services always without hesitation.
Your
20
Yours?
in deep regards
Ferd Mueller