Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M5, Library, Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne. 80.03.15

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Frederick Bailey to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1880-03-15. 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/1880-9/1880/80-03-15-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

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MS found with an unrelated specimen of Cyathea cunninghamii (MEL 224426) collected in the Dandenong Ranges, Vic, in October 1879.
Bradley St Brisbane
March 15th 1880
Dear Baron Mueller
The following is the "Contents" of the work I hope to publish on the Ferns of Australia .
2
Bailey (1881).
Introduction
Remarks on Collecting and Cultivating
Queensland species grouped
Thus —
I.
Climbing Ferns
II
Creekside Ferns
III.
Epiphytal Ferns
IV.
Forest Ferns
V.
Rock Ferns
VI
Scrub Ferns
VII
Swamp Ferns
VIII
Tree Ferns
Australian Ferns systematically arranged
A short glossary
List of Authorities
Index
I have tried to make this part in itself valuable by giving the synonyms by which the plant has been spoken of in any work on Australian plants. The local name or derivation of same is also attached to each
I have embodied all the new species in a paper — read some weeks back at the N S Wales Linn. S.
3
Bailey (1881a) was read at the meeting of the Linnean Society of New South Wales on 28 January 1880.
a copy of which I hope to send you but for the present send you a list of those (n Sp) and some other alterations I propose making
Acrostichum neglectum

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( n.s. ) this is the form I gathered at Trinity Bay
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Qld.
and at first thought a form of A. repandum . Dr Prentice took it for A. virens but I find it quite different to both. I sent you my best specimens at the time, so you have it. The name refers to its having been neglected so long, for Dr Prentice tells me Mr Hill brought it from the north many years back (but Hill never lets me have his specimens even to look at)
Polypodium rigidulum Sw var. Vidgeni this remarkable form connects the normal plant with P. quercifolium but it not having produced soriferous fronds I could not place them together but this I am sure must be done.
P. aspidioides (n.s.) the plant mistaken for L. acuminata TM
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Lastrea acuminatae.
P. aspidioides var. tropica (n. form) the one mistaken for Blume's P. rufescens
P. pallidum. Brack the sp. supposed Asp. tenericaule [Thw] I have placed
Asplenium Prenticei

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next to A. japonicum Th.
All the Doodias I place as forms of D. aspera RBr […]
D. aspera RBr blechnoides
_______ v. heterophylla
_______ v media
_______ v. caudata
Pteris falcata

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to this I place as form P. rotundifolia & P. falcata nana Hook And consider P. paradoxa ought to be put in also they are all forms of one species I consider
Cheilanthes Sieberi

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& C. nudiuscula I keep as forms of C. tenuifolia under their respective names
Trichomanes yandinense

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( n Sp) I found it at Maroochie
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Maroochydore, Qld.
this is truly a most lovely species connecting T. vitiense Bak with T. parvulum Poiret but quite different from both —
I cannot allow the Platycerium Hillii figured in Gar. Chron
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Gardeners' chronicle, 5 October 1878, a description by T. Moore of the species 'recently received in this country by Messrs Veitch & Sons from Mr. W. Hill', with two figures.
some time back the place even of a distinct form of P alcicorne Desv . There is nothing to warrant it being called a species or even a form
Many thanks for your kind notes and also for notes on fungi
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Notes not found.
I had sent my paper but can still have the fresh species added to one list I am glad of your assistance in this for I wish my fungi paper
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Woods & Bailey (1881), read 25 February 1880; issued August 1880 (Anonymous (1929)); there is a short addendum listing nine species, of which M is acknowledged as collector of three.
to stand as the most valuable of my contributions to Flora of the colony. I am so sorry to hear that your health is not what we all could wish I do wish you could take a trip this way, it might be beneficial to your health and would be a pleasure to your old friend to see you once more by bringing old times to mind it would make me feel quite young again
Believe me ever obediently
Your
FMB