Document information

Physical location:

A644, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 87.08.26

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John Buchanan, 1887-08-26. 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/1880-9/1887/87-08-26-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

26/8/87.
It is incumbent on me, dear Mr Buchanan,
1
John Buchanan (1819-1898).
to tender you my gratefulness for your having named such a handsome Ranunculus after myself.
2
See Buchanan (1887), where Ranunculus muelleri is described on pp. 215-6 and illustrated in plate 16.
I feel quite proud of this, particularly as I studied in Scandinavia and Germany from 1840-1846 the many species indigenous there. As I should be so sorry, to loose such a beautiful and lasting souvenir of yours, I would suggest that the name be changed to R. Baronis, because an Australian alpine species, discovered by me in 1854 and confirmed by me in 1873, bears already my name.
3
i.e. Ranunculus muelleri in Bentham (1863-78), vol. 1, p. 13. Buchanan's name was not changed as M suggested and is treated as a synonym of R. insignia (New Zealand flora (accessed 15 January 2020)).
Could you kindly send me a specimen of your supposed
Gastrodia

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?
4
Gastrodia

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hectori, in Buchanan (1887), p. 214, plate 15.
It is, to judge from your delineation, not a genuine species of that genus, but likely belongs to
Prasophyllum

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, and may not be different from one of several large Austral. species.
5
See New Zealand flora (accessed 15 January 2020).
Should you have specimens in fl. or fruit of any N.Z. Ranunculus to spare, I would in your interest send them to a monographer in Bohemia
6
Karl Prantl? See M to A. Engler, 25 December 1887. The monograph of Ranunculaceae appeared as Prantl (1891a).
Regardfully your
Ferd von Mueller.