Document information

Physical location:

66.02.24a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Berthold Seemann, 1866-02-24 [66.02.24a]. 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/1860-9/1866/66-02-24a-final.odt>, accessed August 14, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Correspondence. Darlingia, a New Genus of
Proteaceae

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', Journal of botany, British and foreign, vol. 4, 1866, p. 268 (B66.08.03).
Among several new genera which I have recently described, is one from N. E. Australia, belonging to
Proteaceae

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and closely allied to Knightia, with which it has a 4-seeded carpel in common.
2
M erected Darlingia (D. spectatissima) in B66.02.02, pp. 152-3; he had previously described it as Helicia darlingiana in B65.04.01, p. 24.
The wings however surround the whole seed, the latter resembling those of
Cardwellia

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. The latter genus has however pendulous, very numerous seeds, the direction of the raphe very different, and the radicle lateral. The disposition of the flowers of the new genus, on which I bestowed the name Darlingia, is spicate. As long as the seeds of
Knightia strobilina

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remain unknown, I should not feel justified to consociate my plant with Labillardière's; and, though in
Orites

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species with half-winged and entirely winged seeds exist, I prefer to keep the Australian plant distinct as a genus until further comparisons can be instituted. Meanwhile the plant has passed to some museums as Knightia (Eucarpha) Darlingia, and to some as
Darlingia spectatissima

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. The style is deciduous, but that character is of no avail in
Grevillia

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.
3
Typesetters' error for Grevillea?
Yours, etc.,
Ferdinand Mueller.
February 24, 1866.