Document information

Physical location:

Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide, SA. 82.01.21

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Ralph Tate, 1882-01-21. 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/82-01-21>, accessed September 11, 2025

21/1/82.
I had just finished the name-list of the plants, dear Prof. Tate, which Mr Tepper sent me as the result of your joint excursion southward;
1
The excursion was to the Fleurieu Peninsula, SA, and their camp was at Mt Jagged, between Willunga and Victor Harbour (Tepper (1884a)).
and it will be pleasing to you to learn, that 14 species are new for S.A., all with exception of
Cyperus gracilis

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of Tasmanian type. You have added thus also two genera to the S.A. Flora, namely
Micrantheum

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and
Caustis

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.
When your Kang. Isl.
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Kangaroo Island, SA.
plants arrive, I will also at once name them, as you undoubtedly like to read a memoire on your scientific excursion to that interesting island, where nearly everything has the charm of novelty. — Kangaroo-Island has been neglected scientifically for 80 years; but that is not so bad as Socotra with a neglect of 2000 years standing, close to ancient seats of learning!
3
The natural history of Socotra, an island in the Arabian Sea approximately 400 km west of the Horn of Africa, was investigated by a British expedition in 1880, and a German one in 1881 with Schweinfurth sending the botanical specimens to Isaac Balfour. For the background, see the introductory material in I. Balfour (1888).
Pray, do not deprive the members of your family of your stay with them; there is no hurry about the K.I's plants, some of which perhaps you like to work out yourself.
4
Tate did not visit Kangaroo Island in early 1882.
I am delighted at the prospect of shaking hands with you in Melbourne on the way to the N. Territory.
5
Tate travelled to NT as part of a parliamentary delegation, leaving Adelaide at the end of January; he arrived by steamer in Melbourne on 1 February and left for Sydney by train on 3 February (Argus, 2 February 1882, p. 10). It is not known whether M and Tate met.
The erect Adenanthos is likely A. sericea, not A. terminalis; the former was overlooked by me, when revising your Census. I like to see specimens of the erect Adenanthos, as I am not quite sure, that it is identical with A. sericea, as typically occurring in W.A.
Your
6
You?
are right in deeming a new edition of the Geologic-botanic Census of S.A. desirable, especially after you have got fuller insight into the regional distribution.
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Tate (1880) was supplemented in a series of papers from 1881 to 1886, with a new consolidated census in Tate (1889a).
I shall bring up the arrears for it from Mr Kempe's plants. If it could appear at the end of this year, you would perhaps be able to take in the spring plants of Kang. Island.
A few new plants of Mr Kempe would have not been in time for your vol. of 1881;
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Transactions and proceedings and report of the Royal Society of South Australia.
but assuredly, if any new ones from S.A. turn up hereafter in my material, you shall have the descriptions.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller