Document information

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RBG Kew, Kew Correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1882-90, ff. 11-12. 82.04.09a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Thiselton-Dyer, 1882-04-09 [82.04.09a]. 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/82-04-09a>, accessed September 11, 2025

Easter
1
In 1882, Easter fell on 9 April.
1882
Through the holidays some delay has occurred at the atelier of the Gov. Photographer, in finishing several more illustrations of
Cycadeae

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for you, dear Mr Dyer; and altho’ I have been at work also all through Easter, I have not been able to send off to you by this mail any more material, my time having been occupied with pressing official duties, such as I daily owe to the colonists. I have at last secured a superb cone of
Macrozamia Denisonii

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, which had to be ordered from a place near Cape York, that species further south having become so rare by clearance of the jungle-vallies for sugar-plantations. This fruit-amentum will this week also be photographed.
2
RBG Kew, Museum Entry Book, vol 5 (1881-1895), p. 27 has an entry ‘1882 Mar [?May] 23/55a Sir F von Mueller Melbourne Photographs of
Macrozamia Moorei

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M. spiralis, and one photo, cone unnamed’.
As regards the primogeniture of Vahea there cannot be the slightest doubt; but whether the legal claims of
Landolphia

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against the moral rights of Vahea for maintaining this little botanic estate in Africa can be upheld, is a question which can only be solved by literary tribunals in France (by research in records there); so a sort of litigation (I speak jocularly) is now arising about the “rightful claimant!”
3
For an outline of the nomenclatural argument, see M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 10 September 1881, and notes thereto. See also M to A. de Candolle, 9 April 1882. The ‘rightful claimant’ is probably a reference to the long-running cause of the ‘Tichbourne Claimant’ (ODNB, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/articleHL/20855 , accessed 15 April 2005)
However as I have never been in a court of law in all my life, except once or twice as a medical witness, I shall be very peaceful on this judicial matter of nomenclature. - I wonder only, why Bentham did not give a few words of explanation under
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, why he gave preference to that genus in B & H gen.
4
Bentham & Hooker (1862-83), vol. 2, p. 692.
I see Baillon restores with much propriety
Laxmannia

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among the Composées;
5
Baillon (1867-1895), vol. 8, p. 240.
this would confirm the substitution of my
Bartlingia

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(see Census of Austral. plant-genera p. 48 for R. Br’s
Bartlingia

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).
6
B82.01.06.
Perhaps you will kindly direct Sir Joseph’s attention to this point of changes.
7
I see Baillon ... changes is marked by a blue pencil line in the margin of the ms.
I find Baillon’s Composées rather arbitrary, and (altho he had the advantage of B. & H. gen. to consult,) yet very imperfect. I feel very sad of the death of M. De Caisne;
8
Joseph Decaisne died suddenly on 8 February 1882.
through a quater of a century’s correspondence he remained always the same genial and generous friend, ready to aid, wherever he could. I find that the gum of two
Macrozamia

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s, examined by me, is chemically Bassorin.
9
B82.05.01.
I have at last material enough to settled the limits between M. Fraseri, M. Macdonelli
10
M. macdonnelli?
& M. Moorei, all three closely allied.
11
M had noted the similarities between the three species in B81.08.03, pp. 125–6.
M. tridentata was well described as M. Miquelii long ago, but M. Moorei is an inland species; hence it escaped so long special notice.
I merely alluded to the transit of the living
Livistona

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stem as interesting for general & future horticultural trade;
12
M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 31 December 1881 (in this edition as 81-12-31b).
—it is—so far as I am aware—the first experiment of the kind, as it was with my
Cycas

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stems years ago,
Todea

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&c.
Have you a fragment of
Nesogenes

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to spare from the Kew-collection?
13
Have you ... collection? is marked by a blue pencil line in the margin, which is annotated beneath the valediction in W Thiselton-Dyer’s hand: '[Pers]. 0/- with reference to the specimen of
Nesogenes

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W.D. May 24. 82 and with specimen of
Nesogenes

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May 25. 82.'
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
The name
Vahea gummifera

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is printed already on the plate
14
See notes to M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 10 September 1881.
Of course the merit of effecting the unison of the two genera rests with Mr Bentham solely.