Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1858-70, ff. 406-7. 69.10.10

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Hooker, 1869-10-10. 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/69-10-10>, accessed September 11, 2025

10/10/69
Let me thank you, dear Dr Hooker, for sending me a copy of your valuable report.
1
Not identified.
Your toil during the year must have been a great one with all your extrawork, and you will sympathize with me when I tell you how I am always harrassed with new work with inadequate means.
Thus I have just finished a flood-dam, which costs £800 - - and for which only £300 - - was allowed.
2
See M to J. Grant, 8 March 1869 and M to J. MacPherson, 29 September 1869.
This will safe my garden against future at least ordinary inundations.
I noticed an article by Mr Berkeley on root-blight in Australian Cereals.
3
Not identified.
Pray tell the Rev gentleman that never any specimens of Adelaide[s] diseased cornplants were submitted for examination to me.
I notice that in the bot. Mag, you have reduced
Drymispermum

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to
Phaleria

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.
4
J. Hooker (1865-1904), vol. 95, tab. 5787 (published 1869), citing nomenclatural priority. Bentham (1863-78), vol. 6, p. 38 maintained
Phaleria

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.
So the Australian species, to which you do not refer, have to change their generic name also.
Could you in one of the next cases, which maybe returned to me, send me a piece of the green roof-glass, which according to your report saves the trouble of shading.
Have you a bit of seed of
Matricaria chamomilla

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to spare? The plant is not yet introduced into Australia, strange to say.
I wonder what Mr Mitten will think of the new beautiful
Spiridens

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5
Hampe (1874), p. 668 described
Spiridens

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muelleri among a collection of mosses from Lord Howe Island.
from Lord Howe's Island.
I have learnt, acorns will well travel in dry moss! Please let us try it as an experiment. It would be interesting to try it for
Carya

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s &c also and would not so heavy as dry sand.
Your regardful
Ferd von Mueller
6
Although the remainder of the letter is written on a new folio, 407, on a different type of paper, the reference below to the letter of introduction for Thozet and the fact that the Somersetshire cleared out of Melbourne on 5 October suggest that it is correctly placed.
Mr Thozet is coming by the Summersetshire
7
Somersetshire.
(Steamer). You will be pleased to make the acquaintance of this zealous cultivator and admirable and generous man. Probably you will introduce him at the L.S. I gave him a note to you.
8
M to J. Hooker, 5 October 1869.
The
Victoria regia

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flowers here for the 4th year. The building & tank for it together cost only £120 " – "-.