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RBG Kew. Kew Correspondence, Australia, Mueller. 1882-90. ff. 63-65 83.05.05a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Hooker, 1883-05-05 [83.05.05a]. 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/83-05-05a>, accessed September 11, 2025

5/5/83
Perhaps you will think me troublesome, dear Sir Joseph, when I once more enquire about the Norf. Isl. plants. Could they be identified?
1
A single undated half-sheet, f. 63, glued to f. 64, is transcribed at the end of this letter. J. Hooker to M, 25 June 1883 implies that the list was sent earlier, which suggests that the list was associated with this letter at Kew when the answer was being prepared.
I cannot think, that they are all endemic. C.DC.
2
Casimir de Candolle.
even overlooked Hartigshea
3
Hartighsea?
Patersonii altogether. I will give Prof. Tate a hint concerning the L.S.,
4
Hooker apparently suggested that Tate upgrade his membership of the Linnean Society from Associateship (ALS) to Fellow (FLS). Tate sought the reclassification in a letter to the Society dated 22 May 1883 (Linnean Society archives, BL/1/19, p. 186) in which he wrote that 'it has been represented to me that I ought to pass from the associateship to the Fellowship in the Linnean Society'. He was 'under the impression that an associate may pass to the fellowship, by declaring his intention and paying the requisite fees', and enclosed a draft to pay his admission and annual fee. A recommendation form was completed, and was signed by J. D. Hooker, P. Martin Duncan (geologist, and FRS), and E. M. Holmes (curator of the Museum of the Pharmaceutical Society, and an algologist). Tate's letter and signed certificate were read to the Council of the Society on 1 November 1883 (the first meeting following the summer recess, during which Tate's letter was received) and he was formally elected FLS at the Council meeting of 6 December 1883.
and feel glad, that with your usual kindness you interested yourself for him. For Mr Dyer I shall send by this or next mail a photogram ♂
5
The ♂ symbol is interlined.
of a
Cycas

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from Singapore.
I thought that I had sent a specimen of
Davidsonia

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long ago, but really I find it difficult to gain time for sorting; and have but little help in a Department so ramified so straightened and yet expected to do so much in a variety of ways for the colonists of this young country.
If the day had 48 hours instead of 24, it would be all right enough. No doubt you find that yourself. Moreover if you saw my little Cabin , where even the small bedchamber is stuck full of books, prints, and plants, you would not feel surprised if I am remiss in sending plants out. Now we are here again, pressed into the service for the Calcutta and Rome Exhibition, after only just the extrawork for the St. Petersburg and for Amsterdam has been overcome.
6
Calcutta International Exhibition, 1883-4; World Exhibition, Rome, 1885-6; International Exhibition of Horticulture, Imperial Russian Society of Horticulture, 1884; Amsterdam International Exhibition, 1883.
I hope however to come soon to some systematic distribution of spare-specimens, when I will make it a point, to pick out all addenda to the Flor. Australiensis for Kew. Of some however I have only single samples, of others only poor specimens.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
The genus Oncinocalyx, very near your
Teucridium

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, will interest you. It cannot go with Hyptis, though allied.
7
B83.03.02, p 69.
May the supposed
Begonia

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perhaps be a Composite, a Senecio? I consider the leaf quite normal.
8
See M to J. Hooker, 29 January 1883 (in this edition as 83-01-29a) and J. Hooker to M, 12 March 1883.
9
The remaining text is on an undated sheet glued to this letter as f. 63.
Is there any clue in the Kew Herbarium to the following Norfolk Island plants?
Hibiscus insularis.
10
Annotated in pencil in [?Daniel Oliver’s hand]: Endl.
Abutilon Julianae

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11
Annotated in pencil in [?Daniel Oliver’s hand]: Endl.
Pittosporum bracteolatum

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12
Annotated in pencil in [?Daniel Oliver’s hand]: Endl.
Hartigshea Patersoni
13
Hartighsea patersoniana? Annotated in pencil in [?Daniel Oliver’s hand]: and Endl.
Elaeodendron curtipendulum

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,
or must the identification be obtained at Vienne?
14
Endlicher (1833) described these plants, and most of his collections were in Vienna.
The name of each plant listed by M is marked with a pencilled cross to the left of the name. f. 63 is annotated top right by Daniel Oliver: from Norfolk Isd in Hb, Kew; top left by J. Hooker: Ans | June 24 J.H. (i.e. J. Hooker to M, 25 June 1883); bottom and back by Daniel Oliver: 20 June/83. I have referred to the above specimens & see no reason to doubt that they are distinct, - excepting Abutilon julianae of which we have only a bad specimen of A. Cunningham’s (not authentic) - which, as far as it goes, is not distinguishable from A. auritum . Hartighsea Patersoniana we have in fruit only. Elaeodendron Curtipendulum : F.v. Mueller's E. melanocarpum is very similar, but probably the fruit (of which we have [immature] Norf .Isld. Specimens) is different.