Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1871-81, ff. 154-5. 74.11.02a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to George Bentham, 1874-11-02 [74.11.02a]. 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/1870-9/1874/74-11-02a-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

Melbourne, 2/11/74.
Since last I wrote to you, dear Mr Bentham, I have visited Mount Oberon on Wilson's promontory,
1
Vic.
which large granitic mount I saw but could not reach in 1853. Against my expectations it yielded nothing new or rare, whereas usually any isolated high Hill has something remarkable of plants on it. I found however a few other plants new for locality elsewhere, and among them
Pteris tremula

Search for Pteris tremula in

for the first time in Victoria.
I am amidst the
Cyperoideae

Search for Cyperoideae in

still, and it will take me til the end of the year to finish their review, as I can only spare part of my time amidst many other duties of my crippled Department for such kind of work. But I hope to have done with them before the end of the year, so that they can all appear yet in the 8th vol. of the fragmenta.
2
M gave an extensive treatment of
Cyperaceae

Search for Cyperaceae in

in B74.11.01, pp. 255-74, continued in B75.02.01, pp. 6-22, and B75.03.01, pp. 23-40, the first and second numbers of the ninth volume of the Fragmenta.
The difficulty of dealing with R Brown's Cyperi is very great as [so many species are] cosmopolitan [in the warmer regio]ns of the Globe [*particularly as I can]not inspect the ori[ginal]
3
Approximately the first two-thirds of the last three lines of the page are missing where M's signature has been removed from the back of the page. The excised portion with the signature was apparently removed by Bentham; it is glued to the bottom half of the back of f. 155, which after being excised and signed by Bentham and St. George Mivart was deposited at the Linnean Society as the letter of nomination for E. P. Ramsay (Linnean Society. London, Certificates of Fellows, Foreign Members and Associates, 1871-76). The letter of nomination is annotated by Richard Kippist: 'Proposed Jany 21st 1875 Ballot, Febry 18th, 1875, Elected . R.K. Edward P. Ramsay, Esq Elected, Febry 18th 1875 via Southn. & Singapore 25.2.75.' A light box was used to illuminate the pasted fragment and reveal the hidden text, which is shown in [ ].
specimens.
4
R. Brown (1810), pp. 212-243 treats
Cyperaceae

Search for Cyperaceae in

.
In the prodromus generally not even the number of the stigmas (or what it is equivalent to it the edges of the fruit) are mentioned. The pages on Cyperi are certainly the very weakest of the whole prodromus, as the species are much overrated, ill defined and many prior ones not recognized. It is strange that the illustrious man did not foresee, that of his (supposed) 40 species surely more than 5 would be Indian ones! However everything is more or less imperfect in this world.
I trust that the
Liliaceae

Search for Liliaceae in

, sent by the Northumberland , did reach you safely & pleased you, so also the
Junceae

Search for Junceae in

, Restiaceae &c by the Agamemnon . In a few weeks I hope to be able to send off all
Cyperaceae

Search for Cyperaceae in

, whereas the
Gramineae

Search for Gramineae in

&
Filices

Search for Filices in

can be despatched when ever you like as they are ready.
Trusting your health is firm, and that also otherwise the serenity of the evening of your glorious life remains unclouded I am your affectionate friend
[Ferd von Mueller]
5
editorial addition: See note 3 above.
It is the intention to grant a few hundred £ more working expenses for the Department. I can then at least rent an office building, get a Messenger & perhaps a field collector, but even with such additional aid I cannot restore a proper Department.
I had the agreable surprise of meeting recently the young Baron [A] von Huegel, the second son of the nobleman, whose collections you helped working out at Vienne in 1837. He is an enthusiastic young Ornithologist and most worthy a descendent of a noble father. I introduced him to the Governor &c.
Did you read my recent Reports to Parliament?
6
B74.09.01.
I had kind letters of sympathy from Darwin, Sir H Barkly [&c]
7
Letters not found.
8
The final paragraph comprises the text of the nomination for Ramsay at the Linnean Society; see note 3 above.
Will you kindly propose for election at the Linnean society as a worthy candidate for Fellowship Edward P. Ramsay Esq, C.M.Z.S.
9
Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society of London.
Curator of the Museum, Sydney.