Document information

Physical location:

Library of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 95.06.21a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Benjamin Robinson, 1895-06-21 [95.06.21a]. 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/1890-6/1895/95-06-21a-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

21/6/95
Allow me, dear Prof. Robinson, to ask you for information regarding the systematic names of some N. American species of Fraxinus. C. Koch in his Dendrology
1
K. Koch (1869-72), vol. 2, p. 257.
gives F. nigra of Marsh as the eldest name for F. sambucifolia; but Hooker & Jackson in the Kew Index admit a still older F. nigra, that of Bosc.
2
B. Jackson (1895), vol. 1, p. 977 (issued 1893).
What is the latter? Unfortunately H. & J. left in most cases the year of publication out, so that any one, who has not a very large library of phytographic works is left often helpless. This and the not always strict adherence to priority lessens much the value of this otherwise so important work. Two
Fraxinus viridis

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are also admitted, one from Bosc, the other from Michaux. How should these 2 stand?
Prof Asa Gray wrote once an article on the exact spelling of Gauthier's name.
3
Article not identified from the index to Gray's publications (Watson & Goodale (1888)).
I mislaid the article. Could you kindly write the exact name down for me.
I am greatly beholden to you and Prof Goodale, for sending to the Smithsonian Institute such a valuable and extensive lot of dried plants.
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The Smithsonian Institution often served as a forwarding agent for scientific materials being sent from US institutions to other countries.
It may be some time, ere it arrives, but when it comes I will at once announce the receipt. It will be a gem in the Herbarium here. Pray remember me to the gemial
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genial?
Dr Goodale most kindly
Always regardfully your
Ferd von Mueller
Do you think that it would best
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be omitted before best ?
to change the word ovary in phytography to ovulary? Ought the calyx-lobes of
Orchideae

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be called still sepals? If so, we might as well call the lobes of the calyx (say) of a
Lobelia

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also sepals. When a wrong expression has long been used, we are apt to continue it, remaining unconscious of the incorrectness.
Let me hope that the ferntrees have arrived uninjured.