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73.08.09

Plant names

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Ferdinand von Mueller to James Agnew, 1873-08-09. 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/1870-9/1873/73-08-09-final.odt>, accessed May 15, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from Papers and proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, 1873, pp. 51-2 (B73.09.01). See also M to J. Agnew, 24 August 1873.
Melbourne
9th August, 1873.
It affords me much gratification to send you a third supplementary contribution towards the phytography of Tasmania,
2
B74.13.05. The MS of this work still exists in the Royal Society of Tasmania Archives at: RSA/A.17, 'Contributions to the Phytography of Tasmania III'.
although it is with regret that I saw almost four years pass since my last communication to the Royal Society, and since my visit to your island, without being able to continue my collateral researches on Tasmanian plants either here or there. But during these three or four years my quiet unostentatious work was so much disturbed, by intrusions on my position, by harassing misrepresentations, and by the reductions of my means of working, that even my special publications here, during that, to me, sad period, did but little proceed. Even now I am quite uncertain whether I shall be able to effect any future progress in my literary labours, as I have no longer the means of a well-organised department, such as I formed many years ago in the botanic garden, at my command; and as I have hardly any other resources left than my modest salary, for scientific operations or writings of any kind. I state this at some length in order that I may free myself of the reproach of having done so little for the Society in late years.
The writings now conveyed to you refer to more than 100 Cotyledonar plants and ferns, on which I have given notes, either concerning new localities of the species, or other remarks supplemental to Dr. Hooker's great work.
3
J. Hooker (1860).
Then about 60 Algae are recorded in these pages, either from new spots of growth, or being in other respects worthy of remark. Among the Cotyledonar plants and ferns, 21 are not contained in the "Flora Tasmaniae." Several, however, are immigrated plants. But
Imperata

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and
Cyathea

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are additional genera for Tasmania beyond the introduced
Cryptostemma

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,
Sanguisorba

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, and other genera. The Algae have given five new genera to Tasmania—
Curdiaea

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,
Gloioderma

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,
Dumontia

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,
Bryopsis

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, and
Valonia

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. Not less than 35 species are added to those of the list furnished for Dr. Hooker's work by the lamented Dr. Harvey.
4
Harvey (1860)
Five of the species are absolutely new to science. The additions to the chapter of Algae were obtained (beyond some few furnished by myself) partly from Dr. Harvey's Phycologia Australica,
5
Harvey (1858-63).
partly from notes of Dr. Sonder, but for the greater part from recent investigations of Dr. John Agardh,
6
For species named by Agardh, see M's list in B74.13.05.
of Lund, who thought it worthy of his precious hours to devote many of them to the study of collections sent him from your island. For the labour thus bestowed, it would be a graceful recognition if the Royal Society of Tasmania would call this illustrious man into the ranks of its honorary members.
7
Monthly Meeting of Council, 9 September 1873: 'A letter was read from Baron F. Von Mueller, in which amongst other matters he suggested the election as a Corresponding Member, of Dr. Agardh, of Lund, Sweden, on account of his writings on the subject of the Flora of Tasmania. The suggestion of Baron von Mueller was at once acted upon and Dr. Agardh was nominated for election as a Corresponding Member of the Society, on the recommendation of Dr. Agnew, Archdn Davies, and Mr Abbott.' (RSA/A/5, minute book, The Royal Society of Tasmania Archives).
During the next few months, I hope to add notes to the records of
Glumaceae

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of your island, as I am engaged on the elaboration of these orders for the 7th volume of the universal work on Australian plants.
8
Bentham (1863-78), vol. 7, pp. 189-670 (published 1878). M published his analyses of the groups in various parts of vol. 8 of Fragmenta, e.g. Cyperaceae in B74.09.02, pp. 238 -40, and B74.11.01, pp 255-74. See Lucas (2003) for a discussion of M's practices in preparing collections for Bentham.
I have reason to believe that these kinds of plants have not attracted full attention of all Tasmanian collectors. Thus, for instance, I refer in the pages now transmitted to a
Lepyrodia

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, altogether new for your island, and there, as yet, only gathered on one single spot. If, therefore, the members of the Society would aid me by sending sedges, rushes, and such like plants from as many localities as circumstances will permit, much interesting novelty and much of utilitarian importance also might come to light. Indeed, I would encourage collecting of any kinds of plants, by amateurs, anywhere, and would willingly examine such collections, which latter again would be formed in twofold series of specimens, so that the names, for instruction of the sender, might be communicated. I venture to draw the attention of the Society also to the remarkable fact that the fruit of the
Donatia

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— a genus which I first proved many years ago to exist also in Tasmania — remained unknown up to the present day, although the original species was discovered in Fuegia
9
Tierra del Fuego, South America.
fully a century ago, and then named and described by the two Forsters,
10
J. Forster & G. Forster (1776), p. 9, tab. 5.
who went with Captain Cook in his second expedition. Perhaps it is within the means of the Society to procure the needful material for a record of the
Donatia

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fruit in its journal, as the plant occurs near the survey station on Mount Field, East, and would ripen its fruit in the winter months.
Could your Royal Society not kindly take it upon itself to procure the
Donatia

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fruit?
Could the residents of Flinders Island be asked to send flower and fruit specimens of the various Casuarinae from thence, so that the new C. bicuspidata might be further studied?
Water plants of any kind are also yet much wanted from your territory.