The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne ¶ 2/3/87. ¶ ¶ It needs not my assurance, dear Mr Moore, that I will be happy, to aid in the elaboration of the Flora of New South Wales; but in order that no clashings or contradictions occ...

Document information

Physical location:

4/7577 letters received, pp. 125-8, Colonial Secretary's Department, Archives Authority of NSW, Sydney. 87.03.02

Plant names

Eremophila
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Monochlamydeae
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Myoporinae
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Pholidia
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Charles Moore, 1887-03-02. 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/1880-9/1887/87-03-02-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

Melbourne

2/3/87.

It needs not my assurance, dear Mr Moore, that I will be happy, to aid in the elaboration of the Flora of New South Wales; but in order that no clashings or contradictions occur in naming, characteristics and systematic disposition, it would be necessary, that my Census

B83.03.04 and supplements.

should be the basis of operation. We will then be clear about everything, and the newest knowledge will be brought to bear on the work. It is of course not at all necessary, to follow the arrangements and nomenclature adopted for the Flora Australiensis,

Bentham (1863-78).

because hardly any one, who will use the special work on New South Wales, will use the seven volumes of all Australia. The idea of keeping the by themselves, becomes more and more discarded; — even by last mail the leading Botanist of Western North-America

Sereno Watson? Letter not found.

expresses himself on his own accord bound, to adopt my alteration of the DC.

De Candolle.

system. Furthermore if all the naming of orders genera and species had to be strictly adopted from the Flora Australiensis, the rule of priority, which finally must prevail, would be carried out very imperfectly; and if the limitation of genera & species had also to be exactly in accordance with the Flora, all the research of the last 25 years (not only by me but also of European Botanists) would be lost sight of, and the work be so much behind the times !

If Mr Betche under your direction will prepare or

copy of the manuscript of order after order in the sequence of the Census, the manuscript could easily be sent to me for revision, when I could add also localities and perfect the whole in some other ways, before portion after portion goes to press. This can only be an advantage to yourself.

In the preface to C. Moore (1893), Moore declared that 'the systematic arrangement adopted here is that of Baron von Mueller'; however, he made no mention of M's having reviewed the manuscript as M here suggests.

I would however strongly advise, that the printing not be commenced much before the beginning of next year , so that efforts may be made, in which Mr Maiden wishes to share by help of his Department, to get the plants of the remotest N. W. of N. S. Wales next Spring.

See J. Maiden to M, 4 May 1887.

I am satisfied, that many genera and a very large number of species from thence are yet to be added to the Flora of N. S. W.; but the search should commence in August and be carried on til October inclusive; if this is not done timely, the new Flora of N. S. W. will at once be very incomplete.

Always with regardful remembrance your

Ferd. von Mueller.

I should be glad if this supplement to your census

C. Moore (1884), compiled 'principally from the Census of Australian Plants lately published by Baron Von Mueller' (i.e. from B83.03.04).

could be soon printed and some slips be sent to me. Look for instance on my plates of

B86.08.05.

and see, whether there is any difference between and .

Although M had incorporated into in B65.04.01, p. 22, repeated in B68.03.04, p. 151, and listed all species as in B83.03.04, p. 104, C. Moore (1884), p. 51 followed the Flora australiensis position, which retained because M had 'not published the definite distinctive character he relies upon' (Bentham (1863-78), vol. 5, p. 16). Moore's treatment is consistent with his introduction, where he wrote 'the nomenclature here adopted is that of Flora Australiensis, which has necessitated a departure in some instances from the names given in the Census of the learned Baron'. However, in C. Moore (1893), pp. 360-1, species were treated as synonyms within .