Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M3, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 76.10.18

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

George Bentham to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1876-10-18. 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/1870-9/1876/76-10-18-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

25, WILTON PLACE. S.W.
London
Oct 18th 1876
My dear Sir
I write a few lines chiefly to beg you if not done already kindly to send off the
Gramineae

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and Ferns as soon as possible
1
The
Gramineae

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were en route but the ferns had not yet been sent; see M to G. Bentham, 26 September 1876, and M to G. Bentham, 28 November 1876.
I begin to feel very anxious about the completion of this last volume of the Flora for I doubt whether my working powers will go on much longer
The Agamemnon does not appear to have yet arrived so that I have not actually drawn up much of the
Cyperaceae

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for the descriptions would frequently have to be modified in consequence of the very varied specimens of your collections I have in the mean time being carefully studying
Cyperaceae

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in the general herbarium especially those Indian ones particularly connected with the Australian species. I feel very much inclined generally to concur with Boeckeler's views but not quite always — the genera as he limits or extends them are sometimes too artificial and though generally he has very judiciously brought together a number of bad species he may sometimes have gone a little too far and on the other hand a few of his new species are not very distinct. But the great thing is that he appears to be exact and his work is careful whilst Steudels
2
Steudel (1855-6).
is grossly the reverse
I hear nothing from Wendland about his Palms — that is about your Palms which he has — if he does not send them that part of the Flora will be imperfect for I cannot concur in his and Drude's generic views
3
M also disagreed with the views of Wendland and Drude on the palm genera; see M to G. Bentham, 28 November 1876.
Young Balfour is working up
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with great care and Genl Munro is very steadily and zealously preparing his monograph of
Gramineae

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which will be a most important one
4
I. Balfour (1880), issued 1878. Munro's monograph was not completed (Journal of botany, British and foreign, 1880, vol. 18, p. 96).
Yours very sincerely
George Bentham
Baron Ferd v. Mueller