Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1882-90, ff. 218-219. 87.03.10a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Hooker, 1887-03-10 [87.03.10a]. 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/1880-9/1887/87-03-10a-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
Annotated in lead pencil by J. Hooker And April 21/87 [letter not found].
10/3/87
The discovery of
Rhododendron

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,
Didymocarpus

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and
Agapetes

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along with
Dracophyllum

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,
Spiraeanthemum

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,
Orites

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Helmholtzia

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,
Trochocarpa

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, Helicia,
Soramia

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and
Argophyllum

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on the summit of Mt Bellenden-Ker
2
Qld.
will interest you, dear Sir Joseph; will interest you; it is a strange “mélange” in the Australian flora.
I had some correspondence and a personal interview with Dr Macgillivray concerning your son Brian. It seems, that a vacancy will likely occur at the School of Mines at Bendigo
3
Vic.
in the Directorship, and Dr MacG. is justly eager to secure your sons high ability for the position, if really it becomes open. I have however pointed out to the Doctor, who is the leading spirit on the Committee, — that it must be borne in mind, while your sons present position is one in actual Gov. service, — the Directorship of the Bendigo institution is under local administration, altho’ the school is endowed to some extent by Government. So the question has to be carefully considered. Let me offer my felicitation to the centenary anniversary of the Bot. Magaz. or rather the issue of the 100th vol.
4
Vol. 113 of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine was published in 1887. M apparently assumed that William Hooker took over the editorship at vol. 14, Curtis having died after he had edited vol. 13. Hooker did not commence editing the journal until vol. 54, in 1827, taking over from John Sims who is credited with having edited vols 15–53, although he also edited vol. 14, credited to Curtis on its title page (Hemsley (1906)).
Let me hope, that this “magnum opus” will celebrate other centenary jubilees! as a heirloom in your family.
Ever Regardfully your
Ferd von Mueller
5
The valediction is written in the margin of the final page of f. 218. The following text, on f. 219 which is stamped 'Royal Gardens Kew 2 May 1887, is on similar paper, and is placed here on the basis of the dates of its annotations (see below). The date stamp on the front of the folio is consistent with this sheet having been folded inside the dated folio, so that it would have been the side that was on top when the letter was opened.
The
Helicia Sayeri

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, described from flowering specimens only,
6
Helicia Sayeri

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underlined in lead pencil. Described in B86.11.01, p. 93, as H. sayeriana.
proves after the discovery of the fruit to be a new genus, to which I have given the name Hollandaea.
7
Hollandaea

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underlined in red pencil. M erected Hollandaea (H. sayeri) in B87.06.01, p. 173.
Perhaps, when you happen to meet Sir Henry Holland, you will mention this to the Right Hon. Gentleman. This naming will be regarded as particularly appropriate, because among Austral
Proteaceae

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the genera
Buckinghamia

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,
Cardwellia

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,
Carnarvonia

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, and
Hicksbeachia

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were already established
8
Buckinghamia

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,
Cardwellia

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,
Carnarvonia

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, and
Hicksbeachia

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were all erected by M.
in honor of former Secretaries of State for the Colonies.
9
MS annotations in lead pencil on f. 219:
Kept in [Mus] – JRJ. [i.e. J. Jackson] 18/7/87 [at top of sheet, above date stamp Royal Gardens Kew 2 May 1887. The remaining annotations are below the stamp, and fill the folio.]
Memo of this in [genus] Helecia so that note may be added to Mueller's specimen when it comes to be laid in, D.O. [i.e. Daniel Oliver]
3 V. 87 | Too large & woody for herbarium JGB [i.e. J. Baker]
A note to this effect stuck in cover of Helicia . We shd. like the pericarp of Mr Watson's fruit. D.O. [There is a pencil line linking this note to Oliver's previous note about the memo added to Helicia.]
Annotation in red pencil adjacent to Bakers note dated '3 v 87': Seeds Recd. 11/7 87.
The annotations apparently refer to two sets of specimens; the fruit received with the letter on 2 May 1887, and the seeds received on 11 July. The Kew Inwards Book contains no record of the pod received on 2 May, but entry 278 for 1887, notes the receipt on 12 July from M, of 'seeds,
Hollandaea

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Sayeri, Near entrance of the Russell River | Seed pod sent to Museum'.
The seeds themselves seem to have been transferred to William Watson, the living collection curator responsible for the tropical plant nursery; Oliver appears to have asked for the pericarp of the specimen sent to Watson. There is a seed pod specimen, in two parts, in the Economic Botany collection at Kew: ECB 45009. The donor is listed as Mueller, but there is no collector mentioned; the Entry Book number given in the Economic Botany catalogue as '87.1887' is in error, as it refers to some seeds of Scutellaria from Hong Kong.