Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M108b, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. 89.05.06

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

James Keys to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1889-05-06. 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/1880-9/1889/89-05-06-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

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MS annotation by M:'Answ. 18/5/89'. Letter not found.
Bundaberg,
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Qld.
6th May '89
Dear Baron Mueller.
I have collected a few more algae which I send you herewith: some of them I have doubtless sent before, but with plants of which I know so little I think it is better to send specimens of all, even where they appear to differ in only the slightest degree I also enclose a few specimens of my No. 11 (
Leveillia Schimperi

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) Of the others: Nos. 112, 113, 114 grow in small tufts at low water (Spring tides)
Of 115 I found only one specimen growing in a dense tuft at same situation -
I have kept 117 and 118 separate as the former form appears to be confined to the sides of rocks submerged at Neap tides, and 118 is found on various Algae -
116. found only one tuft of this.
119 and 126 are somewhat alike covering small areas with a moss like carpet - always submerged -
127 grows in dense rigid hemispherical masses underwater.
128 Spreads over the rocks like Lichens -
120 in pools at low water (Spring tides) rather rigid -
122 may be only another form of 114, but thought it better to keep it separate.
123-4-5 on the sides of rocks at low water.
You will see I have not forgotten your request
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Request letter not found.
re the "Dugong" Grass, but tho' large quantities have been washed ashore lately I could not find a trace of fruit, after a couple of hours' search. I shall still be on the watch for fruiting specimens however.
Unfavorable weather during the past five or six weeks has prevented me making any search for fresh water novelties; but as, under favorable circumstances there is a fairly good field for research in this locality, I trust I shall be able to find you something interesting. I am attempting for the Q. R. Society
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Royal Society of Queensland.
a catalogue of the plants of this district, but am making very little progress with it owing to other calls upon my time -
I should be pleased to prepare something for the Australian Assn
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Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, the next congress of which was to be held in Melbourne in January 1890. Keys did not present a paper.
if you would kindly suggest what might be suitable and within the range of my abilities, which I regret to say is indeed limited.
I remain, dear Baron, Yours very faithfully,
James Keys.
P.S. Of the freshwater plants in my former packet I cannot find 104
Utricularia flexuosa

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Vahl in the "Census".
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Keys had evidently not looked carefully enough since the species was included, under that name, among the Utricularia listed in B83.03.04, p. 98.
Kindly say is it there under another name. J.K.