Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M3, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 80.07.05

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Joseph Hooker to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1880-07-05. 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/1880-9/1880/80-07-05-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

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MS embossed with crest of Royal Gardens Kew. MS annotation by M: 'Answ 26/8/80'; but see M to J. Hooker 28 August 1880, which is evidently the letter to which M refers.
July 5 /80
Dear Mueller
Enclosed is a bit of a branch of a spadix of
Clinostigma Mooreanum

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from Mount Lingbird Howes Isld.
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Mt Lidgbird, Lord Howe Island?
It is contained in 2 short broad spathes 7 in long exactly like those of Rhopalost. sapida, the outer being broadly winged from which however the ♂ fl. differs in the calyx & the symmetrical corolla as well as the stamens.
I find no traces of ♀ fl. anywhere on the spadix & the whole habit & inflorescence of ♂ fl differs so much from Clinostigma that I think I must keep up the genus
Lepidorrhachis

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as indeed Wendland suggests. Moreover the spadices are described as numerous & amongst the leaves , if I am correct in thus interpreting your character "spicae inter folia numerosae" — (Fragmenta VII. 102.)
I can find no scars of male fl. at the base of the fruit which Wendland does (Linnea XXXIX 218.) "quod cl. Muell negat".
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which the learned Mueller denies.
It is concevable that these ♂ fl. may belong to some other Palm but I see no reason to suppose so — as we have it also from Moore (top of Mt Gower)
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Lord Howe Island.
These Palms are indeed most difficult & I do not manage a genus a week!
I am disposed to put
Kentia minor

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into Linospadix with monostachya , though the anthers are so different — I assume both have axillary i.e. intrafrondal Spadices, whilst K. Belmoreana according to a drawing has infrafoliar spadices.
K Canterburyana will I think go into Rhopalostylis
Can you send me ♂ fl of K Wendlandiana? or any flowers for acuminata or Ptychosp. laccospadix , or Areca Normanbyi .
Australian Palms are in a shocking state.
Very sincerely yr
Jos D Hooker.
Any materials for [Pacific] Palms would be gratefully viewed & returned .