Ferdinand von Mueller

Melbourne bot Garden

19/6/69

I regret very much, dear Prof. Lindberg, that as yet I have been unable to send you the copy of the Flora Tasmanica.

1

See M to O. Lindberg, 2 February 1869.

I have it ready for some time, but the extreme pressure of work prevented me from filling a case, intended for Dr Regel, into which these two large volumes were to be sent at the same time. You seem to think that tropical Australia is rich in mosses and Lichenastra. Such is not the case ! In a line of about 5000 english miles (69 miles to a degree), which I travelled in 1855 & 1856 in tropical Australia, from Arnhem's Land to Central Australia, and to Carpentaria and the Burdekin,

2

North Australian Exploring Expedition, 1855-6.

I found only 3 mosses , altho by my Schleswig-Holstein researches I was well accustomed to look after such plants! I have also shown by my investigations in the Australian Alps and in Gipps-Land, that I kept my eyes open for these delicate plants, but they are very rare even in the jungles of East Australia, and almost entirely absent in the deserts and dry interior. I don't mean to say, that not a very accurate and special observer with abundant leisure will be able to find still more species, but it is a remarkable fact that neither mosses Lichens and Lichenastra nor terrestrial and epiphytal

Orchideae

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exist in abundance in tropical Australia, except Orchids (not very many) in the eastern coast mountains only one epiphytal Orchid in 5000 miles in North Australia (

Cymbidium canalicalatum

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).

3

C. canaliculatum?

only one ... canalicalatum) is a marginal addition by M with no indication as to where he intended it to be inserted.

I believe this is a fact unique in phytogeography, to which I drew attention in my report on the botanical results of Gregorys Expedition

4

i.e. North Australian Exploring Expedition, 1855-6.

(Linnean proceedings 1858).

5

B58.05.01.

I say all this only to screen myself against the charge of neglecting such plants. You certainly would collect more mosses &c in the subarctics in one day, than in Australia in a year ! I am aware, that Dr Hampe did not return of all mosses specimens to me. However the specimens were often not numerous, and it was better to leave them with Hampe then with me. Be therefore so kind to do with the material, sent to you, what you can . What ever you may write may be supplemented by future material. I am very grateful for the trouble you take in this affair & will allow you to keep all duplicates as long as I have a good specimen of each locality back. Reduce the paper of the collection as much as you please.

6

Reduce ... please. is a marginal addition by M with no indication as to where he intended it to be inserted.

You might however give kindly to Dr Regel some of the duplicates. I am glad you communicated with Dr Gottsche regarding the

Hepaticae

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. Your consignment has not yet come. As soon as I have it, I will write again. The memoirs of the Society for the Flora & Fauna Fennica

7

Notiser ur Sallskapets pro Fauna & Flora Fennica Forhandlingar . The library at MEL has a number of volumes of this publication from the period 1848-67.

will be most interesting. Accept in anticipation of them my best thanks

I must have sent my photogram before!

8

See M to O. Lindberg, 17 July 1868 (in this edition as 68-07-17a).

Probably one of my letters to you is lost.