The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ [As Baron v. Muller writes to us under the 17th of March, among the plants that accompany the growth on Mt Bellenden Ker ¶ there is also ¶ Helmholtzia ¶ (a monocotyledon of the small family of t...

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Physical location:

87.03.17a

Plant names

Commelinaceae
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Helmholtzia
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Philydraceae
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Eduard von Regel, 1887-03-17 [87.03.17a]. 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/87-03-17a>, accessed September 10, 2025

Letter not found. The text given here is from Gartenflora, vol. 36, p. 420 (1887). The passage follows a report of the description of Rhododendron lochae and other species in the Victorian Naturalist for March 1887 (i.e. B87.03.06). Although it is possible that this passage is based on an additional sheet sent with M to E. Regel, 17 March 1887, it is treated here, because of the uncertainty, as a separate communication.

[Wie uns Herr Baron v. Muller unter dem 17. Marz schreibt, ist unter den Pflanzen, welche jene Gewächse am Berge Bellenden Ker begleiten, auch (eine Monokotyledone aus der kleinen mit den etwas verwandten Familie der ), die zwischen 1300—1600' vorkommt und einen dichten Schilfwuchs bildet, in so vorwaltender Menge, dass diese Massen schwer zu durchdringen sind. Ferd. von Muller hat diese Gattung s. Z.

seiner Zeit.

dem Geh. Rat Helmholtz gewidmet, in ganz besonderer Anerkennung seiner Untersuchungen über die Tone, denn F. v. Muller ist nicht bloss leidenschaftlicher Botaniker, sondern auch grosser Freund der Musik und des Gesanges, er ist gegenwärtig sogar Vice-Präsident der Melbourner Liedertafel.]

[As Baron v. Muller writes to us under the 17th of March, among the plants that accompany the growth on Mt Bellenden Ker

Qld.

there is also (a monocotyledon of the small family of the , somewhat related to the Commelinaceae), which occurs between 1300' and 1600' and forms a dense reed bed in such predominating numbers that these masses are hard to penetrate. Ferd. von Muller named this genus for at-the-time Privy Councillor Helmholtz in particular recognition of his investigations of sound,

M hade erected (H. acorifolia ) in B66.12.04, p. 202, where the dedication is ' Professori Hermanno Helmholtz, Opthalmologiae heroi, summa veneratione tribuo’ [I ascribe with the greatest respect to Professor Hermann Helmholtz, a hero of Ophthalmology] .

for F. v. Muller is not only a passionate botanist but also a great friend of music and singing; he is currently even Vice-President of the Melbourne Liedertafel.]