Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M4, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 61.10.15

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

George Bentham to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1861-10-15. 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//letters/1860-9/1861/61-10-15-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
For a published version of this letter see Daley (1927-8) p. 98. Also published in Moyal (1976) pp. 179-80.
Kew Octr 15 1861
My dear Sir
On my return to town from a short tour, Sir William Hooker has communicated to me your letter of the 23d July,
2
See M to W. Hooker, 23 July 1861.
and I lose no time in expressing to you my gratification at the liberal manner in which you have met my proposals relating to the Australian Flora, a further proof of your well known zeal for science, and of the disinterestedness of your labours in the investigation of the botanical treasures of the Australian Colonies. I have no hesitation in acceding to the stipulations contained in your letter and I accept thankfully the loan of your standard herbarium in successive portions on the proposed conditions.
With regard to the title page, upon consulting with Sir William and Dr Hooker as to the most suitable mode of meeting your wishes, we propose to draw it up as follows:
Flora Australasica
A description
of
the Flowering Plants and Ferns
of the
Australian Colonies
by
George Bentham Pres. Linn. Soc.
with the assistance of notes and descriptions
communicated by
Ferdinand Mueller Ph. & M.D. F.R.S.
Government Botanist to the Colony of Victoria Director of the Botanical and Zoological Garden of Melbourne, President of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria &c.
3
President of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria &c has been crossed out, presumably by M. See M to G. Bentham, 24 December 1861.
Published under the authority of the Colonial Governments of .....
4
The work as published had a slightly simplified title: Flora Australiensis: A description of the Plants of the Australian Territory. By George Bentham, F.R.S., P.L.S., assisted by Ferdinand Mueller, M.D., F.R.S. & L.S., Government Botanist, Melbourne, Victoria. Published under the authority of the several Governments of the Australian Colonies.
The answers already received to Sir William Hooker's applications to the Governors of the several Colonies appear to be so far satisfactory as to leave little doubt that the requisite funds will be forthcoming, and I shall immediately proceed with the preparation of the work I should therefore feel obliged if you would, at your earliest convenience, despatch the first portion of your herbarium and notes — that is: the
Thalamiflorae

Search for Thalamiflorae in

including those Calyciflorous families which in de Candolle's Prodromus
5
A. P. de Candolle (1823-73).
precede the
Leguminosae

Search for Leguminosae in

, as these orders must be worked up with the
Thalamiflorae

Search for Thalamiflorae in

.
I remain
my dear Sir
yours very sincerely
George Bentham
Dr Ferd Mueller
6
See M to G. Bentham, 24 December 1861 in which M reports that the first consignment from his herbarium is about to be despatched.