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RBG Kew,Archives,Miscellaneouscorrespondence. 87.02.21Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Henry Ridley, 1887-02-21. 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/87-02-21>, accessed April 20, 2025
21/2/87
In first instance, dear Mr Ridley, let me express my best appreciation of the generous
remarks, which you bestowed on me in the journ. of Bot. regarding my acquaintance
with the Papuan Flora.
Such recognition from one, so erudite as yourself, is particularly gratifying and
encouraging.
1
Ridley (1886) wrote: 'The greater portion of the flowering plants are being described by Baron von Mueller,
who is probably better acquainted with the flora of this island than anyone else in
the empire' (p. 321). M had thanked Ridley for this comment in a previous letter; M to H. Ridley, 12 January 1887 (in this edition as 87-01-12d).
I have written to Mr Fawcett, direct to his new abode, felicitating him to his having
gained the position in Jamaica, where he is sure to exercise also a vast influence
on the elucidation of the Central-American Flora.
2
William Fawcett. Letter not found.
It is with sorrow that I find myself at this moment unable to send you the only specimen
of Microstylis Bernaysii. It is mislaid. The spaces here are most narrow for the half
a million of sheets of dried plants, and thus some times misplacements do occur. I
hope however to find it yet, and then I will transmit it at once on loan.
Speaking of Orchids, I may remark, that Prof Reichenbach seems unaware, that I described
in the “Papuan plants” a Dendrobium Macfarlani
and D. Johnsoniae, to both of which he appears to have given later names. The small
edition of the above work is exhausted; so I can send him no copy.
3
Dendrobium macfarlanei
?
(see B76.04.01, p. 29); Reichenbach (1882), p. 520 contains his description of
D. macfarlanei, which Sander (1892-4), vol. 2, pp. 27–8 treats as a synonym of M's
D. johnsoniae
(
B82.05.06, p. 95). See also M to H. Ridley, 17 May 1887, for M's interpretation of Reichenbach's
D. macfarlanei.
Ever regardfully your
Ferd von Mueller
Perhaps you have occasion, when next writing on Dendrobium, to clear this synonymy
up.
Your elaboration of Mr Forbes Monocotyledoneae
is most interesting
4
Ridley (1886) listed monocotyledonous species represented in Henry Forbes's collection, including descriptions of several news species.
Dendrobium Johnsoniae
Dendrobium Macfarlani
Microstylis Bernaysii
Monocotyledoneae