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Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide, SA. 90.05.14

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Ralph Tate, 1890-05-14. 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/1890-6/1890/90-05-14-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

14/5/90
My Assistant had made out a list of such plants from your Flora,
1
Tate (1890).
dear Prof Tate, as did not occur at all or under other designations in the Census.
2
B89.12.03. Editors' notes to the enclosure, below, identify the names completely missing or that appear under other names.
I send it to you with some notes, and have entered in msc. the actual omissions, some of which seem to have occurred by typographic shortcomings. I should like to have specimens (even only fragments) of the following, so as to have them represented in the herb. here from S.A.
3
Each of the names in the following list, except '— Clarkei', has been crossed through, presumably by Tate. The only species in the list collected in SA before 1890 in MEL are E remophila clarkei and K ochia pentatropis. It is not known what crossing through a name here and in the enclosure signifies.
Barbarea vulgaris
Monotaxis luteiflora
Colobanthus Billardierii
Daviesia horrida
Loranthus celastroides
Styphelia elliptica
Eremophila densifolia
Clarkei
Schoenus sphaerocephalus
Kochia pentatropis (which may still be in time for the 3 Decade of Salsolaceae
4
B90.13.14. Kochia pentatropis is not included in any decade of the Iconography .
)
I may have been the cause of some phytogeographic errors through former writings of my own.
I suppose, you will publish every year some additions and emendations in the form of your Flora, so as to be glued in
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller
Prof. Tates Flora not entered in Census as S.A.
5
While filed separately, the list that follows is considered to be the enclosure mentioned in the letter, since the species listed are included in Tate (1890) but are not shown as present in SA in the second edition of M's Systematic Census (B89.12.03). The list has been annotated by M; his comments are on the right-hand side of the page. Many names in the list have been crossed through, as shown, presumably by Tate.
The two works were going through the press at the same time. The printing of Tate (1890) was proceeding so fast that M wrote that 'the Census of 1889 will not be timely for you' and sent Tate a spare copy of the available proof-sheets and notified him of some SA species that were not included in pages already printed (M to R. Tate, 5 October 1889). In M to R. Tate, 12 October 1889, M explained that he had not included all species newly claimed for a colony as 'I had not yet leisure enough to examine all the new species or the plants from new localities carefully'. See also M to R. Tate, 15 October 1889, and notes to M to R. Tate, November 1889 (in this edition as 89-11-00h), for further explanations of plants excluded from M's Second census.
Barbarea vulgaris
6
Barbaraea in B89.12.03, p. 9.
Stenopetalum croceum
Is this really the W.A. pl
Geijera salicifolia
The typic broadleaved form occurs only on the coast of N.SW in shady forests Yours is the form G. pendula
7
In B62.02.03, p. 108, M had placed G. pendula in synonymy with G. parviflora, which is listed from SA in B89.12.03, p. 21.
Monotaxis luteiflora
Colobanthus Billardieri
Bassia
Dallachyana!
8
Exclamation mark inserted by M.
Ptilotus
gomphrenoides
Is
"
Schwartzii
9
Ptilotus schwartzii, absent from B89.12.03, was included in Tate (1890) with the name attributed to M, as it was in Tate (1889a), p. 82. It is evidently based upon P. Fraseri var Schwartzii, described by M in B88.06.01, p. 163, where M wrote 'these characteristics seem sufficient for raising this supposed variety to specific rank'.
Daviesia horrida
Aotus villosa could never have been found in the interior by Sturt; it may reach the Glenelg-River.
10
The species was listed in Tate (1890), p. 221, as being found in his region G, 'the volcanic area of the south-east corner of the Province or the Mount Gambier district' (p. 204). Part of the Glenelg River lies in the far south-east of SA but it is mostly in Vic. M is evidently commenting on the assertion in Bentham (1863-78), vol. 2, p. 91, that a specimen was collected by Sturt in SA.
Crotolaria
linifolia
"
medicaginea
Neptunia
gracilis
Acacia
pyrifolia
"
dealbata
Grevillea
agrifolia
Hakea
chordophylla
"
multistriata
= H. multilineata
11
H. multistriata is given in Tate (1890), p. 84, but not in the systematic list, p. 228. In the 'Additions and corrections', p. 302, the error is corrected: 'For Hakea multistriata, read multilineata'. H. multilineata is in B89.12.03, p. 121. H. multistriata is listed again below.
Loranthus celastroides
Goodenia sepalosa
Styphelia
striata
12
'stricta' corrected to 'striata' before being crossed through; both names are in B89.12.03, with S. striata but not S. stricta listed for SA.
"
elliptica
Eremophila
densifolia
"
Clarkei
Cryptostylis
longifolia
Crinum
angustifolium
"
pedunculatum
I know only one Crinum from the Murray-R., namely C. flaccidum; I know from culture C. pedunculatum of the east-coast, but that occurs nowhere in SA,
13
Tate (1890), p. 258, lists C. pedunculatum as found in his region M, the plain of the lower Murray.
it may be that a second species exists towards Capricorn, and that may be C. angustifolium, which is not identical with C. Asiaticum
Cyperus pygmaeus
Schoenus sphaerocephalus
Stipa Tuckeri
Botrychium ternatum
Limnanthemum reniformis
= L. exaltatum, oldest name in the genus Leaves never kidney-shaped
14
Tate (1890), p. 143, recombined RBr's Villarsia reniformis without comment. M's view of its position varied; see APNI entries (accessed 6 April 2023) for a guide to his treatments.
Myoporum montanum
M. montanum grows never in mountains; it belongs to the desert-region; hence I adopted the name M. Dampierii Cunn
Eremophila
Behriana
15
The entry in B89.12.03, p. 175, is for the orthographic variant (not the name under which he described it used by Tate) E. behrii, which is shown as found only in SA.
Thelymitra
parviflora
16
Not in B89.12.03; it is included in Tate (1890), p. 256, attributed to R. Brown. Brown (1810), p. 314, described T. pauciflora and Tate's entry may be a typesetter's error not detected in proof. Brown also described another orchid species Microtis parviflora (p. 321), but this genus is quite unlike Thelymitra. There is no entry for T. pauciflora in B89.12.03, pp. 188-9.
"
grandiflora
17
Not in B89.12.03. Tate (1890), p. 256, attributes the name to Robert Fitzgerald; for M's views on Fitzgerald's species see, for example, M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 25 July 1885.
"
urnalis
"
rubra
These I will critically study when I get leisure, in time for the next Census.
18
M has bracketed the Thelymitra and Caladenia entries.
Caladenia
reticulata
"
toxochila
"
tentaculata
"
filamentosa
"
dilitata
"
le ptochila
Hypoxis pusilla
I doubt its specific distinction
Dianella laevis
I prefer the name D. longifolia
Potamogeton
laevis
19
No publication of P. laevis has been found (APNI, accessed 6 April 2023). Perhaps a clerical error repeating the epithet of the previous entry? P. tenuicaulis and P. ochreatus are listed in Tate (1890), p. 261, but are not in Mueller's Census.
?
"
ochreatus
Probably not distinct from the common P. obtusifolius of Europe, which I identified already 1848 with the Austral plant.
20
P. obtusifolius is listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 204.
Cymodocea antarctica
Never yet found south of Tasmania
21
C. antarctica not in B89.12.03. M used the name C. zosterifolia from at least the time of publication of his first Census (B83.03.04), and it is shown from SA under that name in B89.12.03. For his rationale for the name change, see M to. J. Agardh, 1 January 1883.
Schoenus dicifer
22
S. discifer? S. discifer not in B89.12.03; it was described in Tate (1889c), p. 131.
Stipa
muelleri
23
S. muelleri not in B89.12.03; it had been described in Tate (1885), p. 70. See also R. Tate to M, 6 May 1884.
Dichelachne (Stipa) sciurea
24
In B89.12.03, p. 223, M synonymized Dichelachne under Stipa; neither this nor the next species is listed. They were listed, however, under Dichelachne in the first edition of the Census (B86.03.04, p. 133).
" " crinita
Eragrostis chaetophylla
25
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 227, under its earlier name E. setifolia.
Hibbertia sericea
H. densiflora is an older and far apter name; several other species are far more sericeous.
26
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 1, under H. desiflora.
Cardamine flexuosa
With
27
This?
is C. parviflora L., which may be only a var. of C. hirsuta
28
C. hirsuta listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 9.
Erysimum lasiocarpum
29
E. lasiocarpum is not in B89.12.03 although M had used the name in B79.06.04, p. 34, for Blennodia lasiocarpum, citing B55.09.03, p. 100; however, it was not described there but merely cited as his MS name. He described it in B62.03.03, p. 40, where he cited as a synonym his E. blennoides in B53.04.01, p. 367. M split Blennodia species, some listed under Sisymbrium, others under Erysimum. In B89.12.03, p. 9; he lists for SA his original 1853 name.
Sisymbrium procumbens
Did I ever receive this plant?
30
Not in B89.12.03; described in Tate (1885), p. 67; a specimen (MEL 767) was sent to M with R. Tate to M, 11 September 1883.
Cheiranthera volubilis
I believe var of C. linearis
31
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 12, under C. linearis.
Eriostemon brachyphyllum
32
Not in B89.12.03; there is a brief description in Tate (1890), p. 24, but in the systematic list, p. 209, it is given as E. brachyphyllus, attributed to M. E. microphyllus is listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 19; in his description (B55.09.03, p. 100), M states that the species is found on the 'low coast ranges of Spencer's and St. Vincent's Gulf', compatible with the distribution given for E. brachyphyllus given by Tate. APNI (accessed 7 April 2023) gives both E. brachyphyllus and E. microphyllus as synonyms of Leionema microphyllum.
Stellaria glauca
Oldest name S. palustris
33
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 46, under S. palustris.
Spergularia marina
var of S. rubra.
34
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 46, under S. rubra.
Atriplex holocarpum
var. of A. spongiosum
35
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 49, under A. spongiosum.
Dysphania simulans
36
Not in B89.12.03. The species had been described in Tate (1886), p. 71, under the joint authority of M and Tate. The description states that 'this plant simulates in a remarkable manner D. plantaginella'; B89.12.03, p. 50, includes D. plantaginella for SA.
Kochia
pentatropis
37
Not in B89.12.03. The species had been described in Tate (1885), p. 67; B89.12.03, p. 51, includes the synonym K. triptera for SA.
"
aphylla
38
Not in B89.12.03, although M had listed it in B54.10.01, p. 15.
Bassia
Erichoton
39
Bassia eriochiton?
? = B. sclerolaenoides
40
In B89.12.03, p. 51, citing the recombination made in M's earlier Census, B83.03.04.
Ptilotus
Schwartzii
41
Tate (1889a), p.82. had raised to specific rank the plant M had listed as a variety of P. fraseri (B88.06.01, p. 263), but SA is not recorded as a location for that species in B89.12.03.
Gomphrena
Browni
42
G. brownii?
= G. lanata RBr oldest name
43
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 47, under G. lanata.
Gastrolobium
elachistum
44
Not in B89.12.03, although M had described it in B75.06.02, p. 67.
Pultenaea
prostrata
= P. polyota I never saw the plant prostrate
45
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 64, under P. polyota.
"
graveolens
46
Described in Tate (1885), p.68, but not listed in B89.12.03.
Bossiaea Battii
= Templetonia Battii
47
M has written Templetonia Battii, Eucla. at the top of the page. M described it in B87.02.01, from a specimen collected near Eucla. Tate (1890), p. 65, made without explanation a new combination, creating Bossiaea batii, giving Tate as the authority in the species list, p. 222. T. battii is listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 65.
Lotus var
48
var in M's hand.
Behrianus S.A. not in Census
L. austr. var.
49
Tate (1890) p. 69, lists both L. australis and a variety Behrianus, but does not include the variety in the species list, p. 224. Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 66 under L. australis.
Hakea multistriata
= H. multilineata
50
H. multistriata is given in Tate (1890), p. 84, but not in the systematic list, p. 228. In the 'Additions and corrections', p. 302, the error is corrected: 'For Hakea multistriata, read multilineata.' H. multilineata is in B89.12.03, p. 121.
Trianthema humillima
An unfortunate mixture of two plants, must be obliterated
51
J. Black (1952), p. 531, in a list of changes required for parts I and II of his Flora, wrote 'Delete Trianthema humillima, F. v. M. Mr. J. H. Willis, of the Melbourne Herbarium, informs me that further investigation of specimens from Maitland, Yorke Peninsula, prove that this is not a flowering plant, but a small moss, Gigaspermum repens (Hook.) Lindb. Mueller mistook the columella of the spore-case (sporocarp, sporangium) for the erect free-central placenta of Trianthema and the numerous spores for seeds'. See also M to O. Tepper, 30 June 1886 (in this edition as 86-06-30a), and M to R. Tate, 15 October 1889, in which he requested that this false 'species' should be omitted.
Eucalyptus cneorifolia
52
In his Eucalyptographia, third Decade (B79.13.11) under E. obliqua, M discussed De Candolle's E. cneorifolia, among other things pointing out that it has been 'confused with one of low arid country in Kangaroo-Island, which belongs to E. oleosa'. Tate (1890), p. 232, lists the species as from Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln district. E cneorifolia is not included in B89.12.03 but E. oleosa is listed for SA, p. 99.
Cryptandra scabrida
53
Not in B89.12.03; it was described in Tate (1889c), p. 129.
Myriophyllum intermedium
DC. According to Clarke our M. variifol is to be reduced to the Asiatic species of DC. I have not yet verified this.
Wedelia platyglossa
Minuria
integerrima
Doubts about distinction
54
M has bracketed the two Minura entries. Neither species is listed in B89.12.03 but in B76.04.03, p.56, M included both species under M. candollei, the name which is listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 131.
"
denticulata
Senecio hypoleucus
certainly a variety of S. odoratus.
55
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 142, under S. odoratus.
Cassinia punctulata
56
Not in B89.12.03; the species was described under the joint authority of M and Tate in Tate (1890) (see M to R. Tate, 7 October 1888).
We have similar aberrations in Polygonum Spiraea &c
57
It is not clear to what aberrations M refers. It is also unclear from the layout of the MS whether this comment applies to the entries for Senecio or Cassinia or both (both Asteraceae); Polygonum and Spiraea are Polygonaceae.
Candollea graminifolia
= C. serrulata Labill
58
Listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 144, under C. serrulata.
Heliotropium tenuifolium
of doubtful specific value
59
Tate (1890), p. 140, places this species near H. filaginoides, which is listed for SA in B89.12.03, p. 176, along with all other Heliotropium spp included in Tate (1890), p. 247.
Acacia dealbata
Acacia pyrifolia
Aotus villosa
Atriplex holocarpum
Atriplex spongiosum
Barbarea vulgaris
Bassia Dallachyana
Bassia Erichoton
Bassia sclerolaenoides
Bossiaea Battii
Botrychium ternatum
Caladenia dilitata
Caladenia filamentosa
Caladenia leptochila
Caladenia reticulata
Caladenia tentaculata
Caladenia toxochila
Candollea graminifolia
Candollea serrulata
Cardamine flexuosa
Cardamine hirsuta
Cardamine parviflora
Cassinia punctulata
Cheiranthera linearis
Cheiranthera volubilis
Colobanthus Billardieri
Crinum angustifolium
Crinum angustifolium
Crinum Asiaticum
Crinum flaccidum
Crinum pedunculatum
Crotalaria linifolia
Crotalaria medicaginea
Cryptandra scabrida
Cryptostylis longifolia
Cymodocea antarctica
Cyperus pygmaeus
Daviesia horrida
Dianella laevis
Dianella longifolia
Dichelachne crinita
Dichelachne sciurea
Dysphania simulans
Eragrostis chaetophylla
Eremo phila Behriana
Eremophila Clarkei
Eremophila densifolia
Eriostemon brachyphyllum
Erysimum lasiocarpum
Eucalyptus cneorifolia
Gastrolobium elachistum
Geijera pendula
Geijera salicifolia
Gomphrena Browni
Gomphrena lanata
Goodenia sepalosa
Grevillea agrifolia
Hakea chordophylla
Hakea multilineata
Hakea multistriata
Heliotropium tenuifolium
Hibbertia densiflora
Hibbertia sericea
Hypoxis pusilla
Kochia aphylla
Kochia pentatropis
Limnanthemum exaltatum
Limnanthemum reniforme
Limnanthemum reniformis
Loranthus celastroides
Lotus australis
Lotus Behrianus
Minuria denticulata
Minuria integerrima
Monotaxis luteiflora
Myoporum Dampierii
Myoporum montanum
Myriophyllum intermedium
Myriophyllum variifolium
Neptunia gracilis
Polygonum
Potamogeton laevis
Potamogeton obtusifolius
Potamogeton ochoreatus
Ptilotus gomphrenoides
Ptilotus Schwartzii
Pultenaea graveolens
Pultenaea polyota
Pultenaea prostrata
Schoenus dicifer
Schoenus sphaerocephalus
Senecio hypoleucus
Senecio odoratus.
Sisymbrium procumbens
Spergularia marina
Spergularia rubra.
Spiraea
Stellaria glauca
Stellaria palustris
Stenopetalum croceum
Stipa crinita
Stipa muelleri
Stipa sciurea
Stipa Tuckeri
Styphelia elliptica
Styphelia stricta
Templetonia Battii
Thelymitra grandiflora
Thelymitra parviflora
Thelymitra rubra
Thelymitra urnalis
Trianthema humillima
Wedelia platyglossa