The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 21/9/85 ¶ ¶ Herewith, esteemed Mr Tepper, I am sending back the orchid specimens that can be named without trouble. I am surprised that Mr Horswell does not once send leaves with all specimens. From ...

Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M198, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 85.09.21b

Plant names

Caladenia
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Prasophyllum
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Otto Tepper, 1885-09-21 [85.09.21b]. 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/85-09-21b>, accessed September 10, 2025

21/9/85

Hiermit, geehrter Herr Tepper, sende ich die Orchideen Ex. zurück, welche ohne Mühe benennbar sind. Mich wundert, dass Mr Horswell nicht einmal Blätter mit allen Ex. sendet. Nach solchem Material kann er doch nicht erwarten, dass genaue Benennungen gegeben werden sollen.

1301

1305, 1306 & 1319 behalte ich einstweilen zum Vergleich zurück, obwohl der kümmerliche Zustand der Ex. kritische Untersuchung unmöglich macht. Bedenken Sie auch wie nach solchen Ex. die Untersuchung erschwert wird u Zeit aufnimmt, die ganz aus dem Verhältniss der Resultate steht, wenn überhaupt Resultate erreicht werden können

Gewiss bin ich bereit auch Mr H's Pflanzen zu benennen, wenn er vollständige Ex. liefern will. Es sollten für Zergliederung auch immer mehrere Blumen dasein.

Bestens grüsend

der Ihre

Ferd. von Mueller.

21/9/85

Herewith, esteemed Mr Tepper, I am sending back the orchid specimens that can be named without trouble. I am surprised that Mr Horswell does not once send leaves with all specimens. From such material he cannot surely expect that accurate names are to be given.

Horsewell is known to have collected orchids on Kangaroo Island (see Jeanes (2006), p. 14). However, MEL 1550490, his only specimen at MEL listed on AVH (accessed 6 January 2022), has no collecting number, and none of the SA specimens with any of the record numbers given in this letter are Orchids. They were evidently not retained by M.

1301

1305, 1306 & 1319 I’ll retain in the meantime for comparison, although the miserable condition of the specimens makes critical investigation impossible. Consider also how the investigation from such specimens is made more difficult and takes up time that stands quite out of proportion to the results, if results can be reached at all.

Assuredly I am prepared also to name Mr H's plants, if he will supply complete specimens. There should also always be several flowers there for dissection.

Best greetings

Your

Ferd. von Mueller.