Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M3, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 71.12.25

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

George Bentham to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1871-12-25. 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/1870-9/1871/71-12-25-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

25, WILTON PLACE. S.W.
Decr 25 /71
My dear Sir
I can now at last report that I am fairly at work at the sixth vol. of Flora Australiensis
1
Bentham (1863-78).
and if health and strength admit hope to go on steadily till I get through it. I have begun with
Pimelea

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in which the sections must in many respects be different from those of Meissner
2
Meisner (1857a), pp. 496-518.
which separate widely closely allied and in some cases identical species.
Many thanks for the pains you have taken to get the £100 transmitted
3
The Victorian Government ' s contribution for Bentham (1863-78), vol. 6.
— I shall shortly apply to Mr Verdon for it — but as it is usually transmitted in bills having some time to run it will not be due yet — nor do I feel entitled to it till I have advanced the work a little further.
I have finished the
Compositae

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for Genera Plantarum
4
Bentham & Hooker (1862-83), vol. 2, part 1, pp. 163-533.
all but a few references here and there and all is written out for Press we are now only waiting for Hookers
Rubiaceae

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5
Bentham & Hooker (1862-83), vol. 2, part 1, pp. 7-151.
which are very nearly ready and we hope to go to press next month. I adopt about 750 genera of
Compositae

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with about 1400 synonyms — Hooker has I believe about 300 genera of
Rubiaceae

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.
If I do not write by next mail it will mean that I am going on regularly with the volume without anything having occurred requiring special notice. I have quite given up all unnecessary correspondence.
Yours very truly
George Bentham
Baron Ferd v. Mueller