Document information
Physical location:
RB MSS M6, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 92.11.14Preferred Citation:
Johann Eckert to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1892-11-14. 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/92-11-14>, accessed September 11, 2025
Kirchheim via Minyip Nov. 14/92
Sehr geehrter Herr Baron!
Mit abgehender Post sende ich Ihnen die Zeichnung der beiden Isoetes zu. Von den beiden
ist die Hume-Isoetes die interessanteste und höherstehende, allerdings auch die schwierigste
zum Zeichnen. Ich habe sehr viel Zeit anwenden müssen, um alle Organe aufzufinden,
vergleichen und darzustellen. Grosse Schwierigkeiten haben sich im Auffinden der Antheridien
gezeigt. Die Anther. dieser und der Wimmera-Art haben
keine
Cilia, wie der der Fall mit den Kryptogamen ist. Bei der Hume Isoetes sind männliche
(megasporangia) und weibliche (microsporangia) Organe auf
einem
Wurzelstock, männliche aber bei weitem mehr.
Bei der Wimmera-Art habe ich bis jetzt noch
keine weibliche
Organe (microsporangia) aufgefunden, werde aber, so bald ich etwas Zeit übrig habe,
mir frisches Material zum weiteren Nachsuchen herbeischaffen. Obgleich mir die Analyse
dieser beiden Pfl. sehr viel Mühe und Zeit gekostet hat, so bin ich sehr froh, dass
ich selbige unternommen, denn dadurch bin ich nun imstande auch die blüthenlose Pfl.
inbezug auf die Befruchtungs- und Fortpflanzungswerkzeuge genau zu untersuchen; das
habe ich zuvor nicht verstanden. Jetzt werden auch bald die Zeichnungen von Geococcus
und Cardamine nachfolgen.
War den Druck der Liste von den Glenelg-Pfl. betrifft, so ist es mir vollständig unmöglich
dieselbe
selbst
drucken zu lassen, aus dem Grunde weil ich in Schulden stecke u mich vor weitere Geldausgaben
hüten muss. Meine Schulde bis dato belaufen sich auf £60, mein halbjähriges Gehalt,
zahlbar den 1. Febr, (nun muss ich bis dahin auch noch Geld gebrauchen) beträgt £42-10,
also das fehlende muss ich auf andere Weise herbeischaffen durch Musikunterricht,
Extrastunden u.s.w. und so kommt es oft, dass ich über meine Kräfte arbeiten muss,
um mich mit meiner Familie ehrlich und respektabel durchzuschlagen. Ich würde ja sonst
herzlich gerne die Liste auf eignen Kosten drucken lassen, aber unter den jetzigen
Verhältnissen würde ich mich damit in den Bankerott stürzen. Wenn sich aber die Zeiten
bessern sollten, so würde ich mit der Veroffentlichung nicht säumen.
Mit herzlichsten Gruss
Ihr J.P. Eckert
Kirchheim via Minyip
Nov. 14 /92
1
Vic.
Very esteemed Baron!
With the outgoing post I am forwarding to you the drawing of both the
Isoetes. Of the two, the Hume
Isoetes
is the most interesting and the taller, certainly also the most difficult to draw.
I had to spend very much time to find all the organs for comparison and illustration.
Great difficulties arose in the locating of the antherids. The antherids of this and
the Wimmera species have
no
cilia, as is the case with the Cryptogams. In the Hume
Isoetes
there are male (megasporangia) and female (microsporangia) organs on the
one
rootstock, but more male by far.
So far in the Wimmera species, I have
not
yet found
any female
organs (microsporangia) but, as soon as I have some spare time, I will get fresh material
for further investigation. Although the analysis of both these plants has cost me
much time and trouble, I am very pleased that I have done so, as I am now in the position
to also closely investigate flowerless plants in relation to their fertilization and
reproductive organs, which I have previously not understood. Now the drawings of
Geococcus
and
Cardamine
will also soon follow.
Concerning the printing of the list of the Glenelg plants, it is absolutely impossible
for me to have it printed
myself
, for the reason that I am in debt and must guard myself against further expenses.
To date my debts amount to £60, my half-yearly salary, payable on 1 February, amounts
to £42-10 (until then I must use some money), thus I must get the shortfall another
way by music lessons, extra hours and so on and often it happens that I must work
too hard, so as to maintain my family honourably and respectably. Otherwise I would
certainly be pleased to have the list printed at my own cost, but under the present
circumstances I would fall into insolvency thereby. However, if the times should improve,
I would not delay the publication.
With heartiest greetings
your J. P. Eckert.
I.
Isoëtes from the Hume River
Nov. 1892
2
Notes explaining the different parts of the pencil drawings accompanying the letter.
They are marked: 'I. Isoëtes from the Hume' and 'II Isoetes Drummondi (from Wimmera)'.
Each is marked 'drawn by J. P. Eckert' in 'Kircheim' and dated 'Nov 92'. 
The paper on which the images are drawn is 186 mm wide.
The paper on which the images are drawn is 186 mm wide.
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Drawn by J. P. Eckert, Kirchheim
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1
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Plant natural size, male and female organs on the same root stock, only male organs
much more numerous, about 2 or 3 female organs on each, the rest being male.
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2x20
3
20
over
40.
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barren leaf, showing the arrangement of cells, clorophyll bodies appearing only at
more than one half of the height. The wing-like appendages at the base (which are
transparent) small the size are characteristic in this plant,
those of that
of the Wimmera kind are much larger and different in shape.
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3.x50
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Portion of leaf with the fovea with a megasporangium or male organ showing also the
stomata
through which the megaspores escape when mature.
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4
x50
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Same with microsporangium or female organ showing also the dichotomous canal the stomata
at the top through which the antherizoids enter when mature.
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5.
x250
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Dichotomous spiral celled canal from microsporangium to stomata
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6
x 50
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Microsporangium or female organ
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7
x 50
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Different views of megasporangium or male organ.
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8
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Transverse section of megasporangium showing the megaspores.
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9
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Young megaspore x 250
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10
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Mature megaspores, different views, greyish blue in colour, rather hard and brittle
x 300
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11
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Megasporangium burst open with mother-cells containing the antherizoids x 300
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12
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Single mothercell with antheridia, having a parenchymatous double wall. x 500
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13.x
1000
or nearly
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Antheridia, bottleshaped, destitute of cilia, but showing a great jerking activity
after being liberated from the mother-cell. The motion is vertical, i. e. like that
of a ⅔ filled bottle; the head or upper part is rose-coloured and the lower greenish.
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14.x 700
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An empty mother-cell with cilia, which, however only become visible after antherizoids
have escaped.
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15about 1000 diameter
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Microspores, brown, ciliated, semi-ovate. The
4
They?
5
they?
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II Isoetes Drummondi (Wimmera
species)
6
Vic.
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1.
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Plant Natural size
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2
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Lateral view of leaf with megasporangium x 10
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3
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Back view of leaf x 10
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4
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Megasporang. and stomata through which antherozoids escape x 25
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5
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Megasporangium x 25
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6
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Megaspore x 300
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7
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Mother-Cell containing atherozoids x 400
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8
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Mother-Cell broken open and anther. escaping x 500
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9
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Antherozoids about x 1000
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Cardamine
Geococcus
Isoetes