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93.09.00g

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Ferdinand von Mueller to the Académie Internationale de Géographie Botanique, 1893-09 [93.09.00g]. 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/1890-6/1893/93-09-00g-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

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Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Botanique pure — Géographie,' Le monde des plantes, vol. 3, p. 44 (B93.11.02). It is dated to September 1893 as the latest likely date that it could have been sent to appear in the issue of 1 November 1893. The way that M’s qualifications are given below his name is very unusual, strongly suggesting an editorial intervention, at least, before publication. M had been concerned that actions had been taken in his name and reported in Le monde des plantes without his having seen or approved them, prompting him to resign as Director; see M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 3 November 1893.
Collectio plantarum totius mundi usquam rarissimarum édita sub auspiciis Academiae internationalis phytogeographicae Cenomanensis.
Sous ce titre, je me permets de proposer l'édition de fascicules successifs d'exiccata, mais seulement de ces espèces, qui sont extrêmement locales, en danger d'être exterminées, et qui ne sont pas faciles à cultiver pour l'horticulture. On pourrait probablement pousser beaucoup de membres de notre Académie à contribuer à ces collections universelles en assez grandes quantités pour avoir une édition de 500 plantes au moins.
Une telle publication sauvegarderait la conservation des plus rares plantes, en tout cas à l'état d'exiccata, et en assez grand nombre, pour que, répandues elles soient toujours accessibles aux recherches des savants dans le monde entier. La rareté extrême de ces exemplaires causerait sans doute la vente facile de ces collections, et le profit augmenterait les ressources de notre union académique.
Baron Ferd. de MUELLER
Docteur en médecine, Docteur es-sciences.
Collection of the rarest plants from anywhere in the world, edited under the auspices of the International Academy of Botanical Geography, Le Mans.
Under this title, I venture to propose the edition of successive fascicles of exsiccata, but only of those species that are extremely local, in danger of being exterminated, and that are not easy to cultivate for horticulture. We could probably push many members of our Academy to contribute to these universal collections in large enough quantities to have an edition of 500 plants at least.
Such a publication would safeguard the preservation of the rarest plants, at least in the state of exsiccata, and spread in sufficient numbers that they are always accessible to the research of savants all over the world. The extreme rarity of these specimens would undoubtedly cause the easy sale of these collections and the profit would increase the resources of our academic union.
Baron Ferd. de MUELLER
Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Science.