15/3/82.
Your list of Australian Mosses, dear Mr Mitten, will be placed to morrow before the
R.S. of Vict.
The whole is copied, except the Polynesian portion, the transcript of which I have
presented in your name to the L.S. of N.S. Wales.
It was necessary to rewrite the whole, as the typographers
here
would not be able to make out the abbreviations and many of the botanic words. I
have besides spent several days, to add to the quotations and localities, so far as
this could be done with safety. All this impresses me still more with the persuasion,
that a critical reexamination of all the species would be needful. You have for such
purposes Hampe's collection near you, which, I suppose, would be obtainable from Carruthers
on loan; as regards Dr C. Mueller's species, there would be doubtless difficulties
about the exact recognition of many of such, as are not contained in any British Collections,
inclusive Hampe's. You have cleared away already many surplus-species; but I feel
convinced, that many more will have to be struck out yet. Geheeb's particularly seem
not sound.
As you placed your list unreservedly at my disposal, I have put the whole of the diagnoses
in the nominative & made some other slight changes.
The printing both here & in Sydney will soon to proceed, so that you ought to get
in a few months copies.
I am glad, that you named no species after the miserable, worthless collector, Karsten,
who was as a countryman recommended to me by Prof Roeper of Rostock. The man had a
large sum from me, for which he collected almost
nothing
.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Of course Karsten is no longer employed.
Are
, minutum & cristatum the smallest mosses of the world?
