Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M3, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 72.01.25a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

George Bentham to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1872-01-25 [72.01.25a]. 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/72-01-25a>, accessed September 11, 2025

25, WILTON PLACE. S.W.
London
Jany 25 /72
My dear Sir
I write you a few lines to say that I have duly received the £100 contributed by your Government towards the 6th vol. and that I am progressing with the work although not so rapidly as I should have done had I not still much dabbling to be got through with in doubtful
Compositae

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1
For Bentham & Hooker (1862-83), vol. 2.
about which I have written to correspondents' abroad. I have done
Thymeleae

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I think I have succeeded in distributing the Pimeleas into six
2
sic, seven sections are listed below and used in Bentham (1863-78), vol. 6, see pp. 3-5.
good sections 1
Thecanthes

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2
Eupimelea

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Per.
3
Perianth.
not circumsciss containing the N. Zealand species and P. alpina P. cinerea and P. Milligani from Australia 3
Heterolaena

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differing from
Eupimelea

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in habit foliage and probably in the narrow cotyledons species all Western 4
Calyptrostegia

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Per. circumsciss Fl.
4
Flower.
hermaphrodite or female by abortion species numerous E. and W. 5
Mallistachys

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flowers strictly dioecious ♀ per circumsciss ♀— P. argentea and P. clavata 6
Dithalamia

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Flowers strictly dioecious ♀ per with small persistent lobes close above the ovary — P. axiflora leptospermoides microcephala pauciflora elachantha pygmaea serpyllifolia flava petrophila
7 Epallage Flowers usually of
Calyptrostegia

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but anthers with a broad connection bearing the cells on the inner face — (in all the other tribes the anther cells are very distinct when open placed back to back on a narrow connective) — P. Bowmanni ammocharis curviflora hirsuta altior octophylla petraea phylicoides Eyrei longiflora stricta Preissii & Holroydi I am obliged to adopt the name of
Phaleria

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for
Drymispermum

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I think also that Wikstromia has good claims to be kept up as a distinct genus from
Daphne

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.
I have also done
Thesium

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Choretrum

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Leptomeria and Omphacomeria the three last genera readily recognised by their inflorescence as well as by the structural characters
Omphacomeria psilotoides

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is as you say your
Leptomeria glomerata

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5
Source of comment not identified, but see Bentham (1863-78), vol. 6, pp. 225-6.
as to the Tasmanian plant which is a true Leptomeria the PJ
6
Port Jackson.
plant is a true Omphacomeria with 5 clustered flowers only perhaps a variety only of O. acerba which I find always unisexual the ♀ flowers with empty anthers and 2 lobed stigma always solitary the ♂ without ovary and an obtuse or scarcely notched style always clustered
Your
Choretrum oxycladum

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must be a mistake On examining the fl. of your specimens I find them ♂ with a valvate 5 parted perianth and a central cluster of very numerous stamens. It must be Euphorbiaceous and I hope to identify it when I come to that Order
Yours in haste
George Bentham
Bn
7
Baron.
F. v. Mueller