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Physical location:
Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide, SA. 82.08.20Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Ralph Tate, 1882-08-20. 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/82-08-20>, accessed September 11, 2025
20/8/82
I spent the spare hours of the last three
days, dear Prof Tate, to do something to your plants, but was not very successful,
the main difficulty with the new forms presenting itself through
absense of fruit
, which at the time of your tour seems not to have been obtainable. Thus I find, that
the Hibiscus must stand over, as the hastate leaves, though remarkable, may indicate
only a form of H. rhodopetalus, to which you referred the species already.
1
two
deleted.
The new Ruellia or rather Strobilanthes I have ventured to describe, without fruit.
What I would propose to you now is to publish a list of all the northern species so
far as named of
your own
journey and give along with that list the diagnosis of the Ruellia, as transmitted
herewith. It is not good to attempt
too much
at a time; successively other instalments of your plants might be given, and finally
a full list of
all
known from Arnhems Land. As possibly the new acanthaceous plant may have gone in Schultz's
sets to Europe, it would be well to publish it at once
2
Read to the Royal Society of South Australia on 5 September 1882 and published as
Strobilanthes tatei
in B82.12.05.
3
This sentence is a marginal annotation on the same page as the preceding paragraph.
Though M gave no indication of where he meant it to be inserted, it clearly belongs
here.
M was aware that Schomburgk had not sent him some sets of the plants collected in
the NT by Frederick Schultze in 1869-70 (M to R. Tate, 11 July 1879, and notes thereto). The new plant was published quickly; see n. 2 above.
For the next 2 weeks my
spare
hours must be again given up to the Census of Austr. plant-species,
and to writing a lecture to be delivered in Ballarat, and which I have not even yet
commenced to elaborate, it requiring lots of details to be arranged, as it is one
of a series, to be
printed
.
4
B83.03.04.
5
The death of my poor & genial friend, the Rev. John Stobbs, brought about much sorrow
to me, as he was one of the few genuine friends, I ever had since my early orphanage
in life. I delivered a few days ago an adress of mourning
to the Literary Association of his Church, he being its President. Perhaps I may soon
follow him into eternity.
6
The
Argus
published an extensive report on 14 August 1882 of Stobbs's funeral, held on 12 August, at which M was a pall-bearer, and of memorial services
held on Sunday 13 August. However, M's elegy was not reported.
Mr Kempe has sent just a (Pentatropis
) which appears distinct from the three
others of Australia, but the limits of them as regards specific demarcation have to
be still further traced.
7
MS annotation interlined by [Tate]: 'Daemia in Asclepiad'.
8
four
deleted.
In September I will resume working on your plants; meanwhile you will get one or two
more sheets of the census.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Your compilation of the N. territory plants is very good. So I return it rather than
delay it for additions as supplements must still follow from time to time.
The M'Kinlay-River seems an excellent locality for
new
plants. Can you get more from thence through Amateurs?
Hibiscus rhodopetalus
Pentatropis
Ruellia
Strobilanthes