Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne . 82.09.16

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

William Moffat to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1882-09-16. 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/1880-9/1882/82-09-16-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

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MS annotation by M: 'Answ 18/9/82'. Letter not found.
Romsey
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Vic.
16th Sept 1882
Sir F. von Mueller.
Dear Sir
Herewith are forwarded for naming at your convenience a few Spring plants, the genera of most I know but not the species – There are one or two very pretty
Acacia

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s which I have not found before
I am afraid we haven't many plants of the
Orchidaceae

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here but will send you what I can during the spring. I have a few single blooms in my collection still unnamed which I will bring down with me some day, hoping to get you to favor me with the names.
The material sent herewith is entirely at your service, and should there be anything of value in it shall be able to send you more if required for examination
Just now our meadows are covered with the little Anquilaria
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Anguilaria?
australis among which I notice a purple variety of which I have sent you a specimen, and a little white Crucifer, which I think is a variety of C. hirsuta
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Cardamine hirsuta ?
but am not sure — Specimen herewith — There is also a yellow composita nearly allied to
Cryptostemma

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that is spreading rapidly over our fields and blooms this early. It is not at all like the
Hypocheris

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Hypochaeris ?
and I hope for the sake of the cattle will not spread so rapidly. Have sent a specimen of that also.
Our apple & cherry trees have been attacked by a mildew, (branch herewith) and also by a lichen, both of which do great damage absorbing the nourishment, & causing the bark to shrivel & dry up. Any information you can give me will be most thankfully received.
I also send a little fungus & a black moss. The fungus as you will see attached itself to the bark of the Cherry Tree. The Black moss I found growing under the shade of a pine tree — Both are quite strange to me.
I have also a few Algae that I don't know the name of, but how to get them named I don't know — perhaps you can direct me I have also some
Diatomae

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growing principally of the genus
Gomphonema

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and some of the movements they exhibit are very wonderful as well as beautiful. I would like to get some plants of the
Valisnaria

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Vallisneria?
&
Chara

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for aquarium so that I could show cyclosis to my friends, but don't know anyone who has them.
I have been working at Pleura-pneumonia lately and believed it to be a fungoid parasite, but when my examinations have been completed will make the matter the subject for a paper for the Micro-Society of which I glad to see we have the honor to call you a member
I am sorry you were not present the other evening when I read a paper on "Bioplasma"
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Moffat read a paper on 'How to display Bioplasm' at the meeting of the Microscopical Society of Victoria on 31 August 1882 (Southern science record, vol. 2, p. 210).
as your opinion on the subject would have been very valuable to me & to such members as think about subjects of a kindred character
Hoping to hear from you soon & with my best respects to you
I am
Yours faithfully
W. Moffat