Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol. LXXV, Australian and Pacific letters 1859-65, letter no. 147. 62.04.08a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1862-04-08 [62.04.08a]. 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/1860-9/1862/62-04-08a-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

1
MS black-edged; M's sister Bertha died on 7 September 1861.
8/4/62
Dear Sir William.
By favor of Capt Martin of the "Suffolk" I beg to send you an other Wardian Case, which with its contents I hope will safely reach you, as one of our Gardeners
2
Not identified.
is taking his passage to England simultaneously & has promised to supervise the plants during the voyage.
3
Suffolk cleared out of Melbourne on 10 April ( Argus , 11 April 1862, p. 4) and arrived in London (Gravesend) on 28 June ( London Daily News , 30 June, 1862, p. 7).
The contents of 'A Wardian-Case (plants in bad condition)' were entered in the Kew Inwards book on 3 July 1862. The list contains 27 species, of which 15 are shown as 'dead' and 3 as 'bad' (RBG Kew, Kewensia, Kew Inwards Book 1859–1867, p. 145, entry No. 122).
I should be delighted to hear, that they safely arrived & that they might one day furnish material for a few pages of that noble work, of which you dedicated the last volume to myself, a token of kindness as lasting as it is kind.
4
Curtis's botanical magazine. See notes to M to W. Hooker, 24 March 1862 (in this edition as 62-03-24b).
I have also packed up a few roots of
Damasonium ovalifolium

Search for Damasonium ovalifolium in

(
Ottelia ovalifolia

Search for Ottelia ovalifolia in

) which may prove useful for your aquaria.
Ever with the kindest regards & the deepest solicitude for your health & happiness
your
Ferd. Mueller