Document information

Physical location:

National Herbarium of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. 86.11.03

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Thomas Whitelegge, 1886-11-03. 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/86-11-03>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
MS found with a specimen of Claudea bennettiana (NSW 288415).
3/11/86
I would be much beholden to you, dear Mr Whitelegge, if you could spare me any of your large specimens of
Claudea Bennettiana

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. Perhaps what you collected shows Keramidia and other organs of multiplication, which I would be glad to describe, and of which you may have made yourself already microscopic sections and drawings.
2
See also T. Whitelegge to M, 12 November 1886 (in this edition as 86-11-15a), reporting that he was as yet unable to supply specimens in fruit.
Copies of the latter would be very welcome.
Long ago I pointed out to Agardh, Schmitz and other European Algologist that the
Claudea Bennettiana

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was not really congeneric with C. elegans, nor could be placed with
Vanvorstia

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in one genus. I mentioned to them, that I had called it as a distinct genus
Sonderia

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, in honor of Dr W. O. Sonder, one of my earliest friends in life, a great author on S. African plants
3
Harvey & Sonder (1859-65).
with whom I was for a third of a century in frequent phytologic correspondence, and to whom as a specialist most of my algologic collections were confided.
4
No such letters written 'long ago' have been found. However, in a letter to Agardh, 15 November 1886, M reiterated the request: 'As stated I would like to name this alga with you, if the genus really is new,
Sonderia

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'. In his reply, 25 December 1886 (in this edition as 86-12-25b), Agardh agreed that the newly found item was identical with the species described by Harvey as Claudea bennettiana, but that it agreed more with Vanvoorstia than with Claudea. However, in the absence of fruit it could not be decided whether it represented a new genus as M thought might be the case. Agardh eventually published
Sonderia

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, attributed to M and cited as 'F. de Muell. in litter.' [in correspondence], in Agardh (1873-90), part 6, p. 117.
Four days before his rather sudden death he still worked on new Algs I had sent him, and the last letter, he wrote in life, was to me.
5
Letter not found.
It would be the aptest botanic genus, that could be dedicated to such a man, this one. The
Sondera

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of Lehmann
6
Lehmann (1828-57), part 8, p. 44.
among
Droseraceae

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held not out. Perhaps you might mention this incidentally at the L. S. of N. S. W.
7
Linnean Society of NSW.
— So you can also see, that I am interested in this particular Alga with reference to its fruit. Dr Ramsay kindly sent small specimens,
8
These E. P. Ramsay collections are at MEL 584171, as Vanvoorstia bennettiana.
but not in fruit.
Regardfully your
Ferd von Mueller