The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ Now the differences that separate the genus you most kindly sent me, and for which I have suggested the name ¶ Streptoglossa ¶ , ¶ ¶ from ¶ Pluchea ¶ Cassini (who, however, indicated only Amer...

Document information

Physical location:

60.07.27a

Plant names

Pluchea
Search for Pluchea in
Streptoglossa
Search for Streptoglossa in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Veronicaceae
Search for Veronicaceae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index

Preferred Citation:

Joachim Steetz to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1860-07-27 [60.07.27a]. 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/60-07-27a>, accessed September 11, 2025

Letter not found. The text given here is from Tr ansactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh , vol. 7, p. 495 (B63.13.03). The text is introduced as follows: ‘In a letter, dated Hamburg, 27th July 1860, Dr Steetz adds the following observations:—‘.

Die Unterschiede nun, welche die mir guetigst uebersandte Gattung, fuer welche ich den Namen vorgeschlagen habe, von , Cassini (der aber nur Americanische Arten damit bezeichnete, also § 3 der Gattung in de Candolle’s Prodromus) trennen, sind im Ganzen folgende;

Streptoglossa.	Pluchea, Cassini.
1. Antherae sagittatae; (die kurzen Anschaengsel Pollen fuehrend, wie bei vielen Vernonoaceen. De Candolle und Lessing nannten sie ecaudatae, obgleich der letztere schon ihre Verschiedenheit davon beobachtete.	Antherae caudatae. (mit langen Anhaengseln die keinen Pollen tragen).
2. Flores foeminei ligulati. Ligula erecta, brevissima, subinvoluta.	Flores foeminei breves, tubulosi, subtruncati.
3. Pappus paleaceus.	Pappus pilosus.
4. Capitula pluriflora.	Capitula multiflora, i.e. floribus multo magis numerosis, quam in Streptoglossa Search for Streptoglossa in This website Australian Plant Name Index .

Die indischen und afrikanischen Arten von in de Candolle’s Sinne, naemlich eine seiner Arten (N. 4) in §1 und §2 duerften eine neue Gattung bilden, da ein entschieden verschiedener habitus sie von Cassini’s Pleuchea trennt und unter einander verbindet. Achaenia und Pappus scheinen constant verschiedene Charactere zu bilden; ich sage: scheinen, denn leider kenne ich nicht alle Arten und nur wenige von den mir bekannten haben reife Achaenia.

Now the differences that separate the genus you most kindly sent me, and for which I have suggested the name , from Cassini (who, however, indicated only American species by that, therefore § 3 of the genus in de Candolle's Prodromus) are in general as follows:

Streptoglossa.	Pluchea, Cassini.
1. Antherae sagittatae; (bearing short appending pollen as in many Veronicaceae Search for Veronicaceae in This website Australian Plant Name Index . De Candolle and Lessing called them acaudatae, although the latter already observed their disparity from these.	Antherae caudatae. (with long appendages that bear no pollen).
2. Flores foeminei ligulati. Ligula erecta, brevissima, subinvoluta.	Flores foeminei breves, tubulosi, subtruncati.
3. Pappus paleaceus.	Pappus pilosus.
4. Capitula pluriflora.	Capitula multiflora, i.e. floribus multo magis numerosis, quam in Streptoglossa Search for Streptoglossa in This website Australian Plant Name Index .

The Indian and African species of in the sense of de Candolle, namely one of his species (no. 4) in §1 and § 2 may form a new genus, because a decidedly different habitus separates it from Cassini's Pleuchea and connects them together. Achenes and pappus seem to form constantly different characters; I say, seem, because unfortunately I do not know all species and only a few of those known to me have ripe achenes.