To William Hooker   6 April 1857

Sydney, 6 April 1857.

My dear Sir William.

It is with feelings of the utmost grief, that I commence this letter, to inform you first of all, that altho' the Messenger at last arrived, one of the most important part of my collection, namely the greater part of the plants from Central Australia and the upper part of the Victoria has been destroyed by exposure to water. I availed myself of the best means at my command for securing the collections so that only direct contact with water could have caused this grievous loss, and I have consequently requested Mr Gregory to investigate into the reasons of the destruction of this valuable property belonging to her Majesty's Government.¹ The number of specimens destroyed amounts to nearly 3000 and that of seeds to 2-300 kinds. I have kept a few spricks which had not suffered to the extent of the rest, altho' they will also perish at last by absorption of hygroscopical moisture — still they will serve at this moment to secure a few additional notes. I am now more glad than ever to have describe as much as I could on the spot, so that many species are not quite lost to science, altho' this unfortunate event will cause the perfect loss of very many kinds in the herbarium and what is equally deplorable, will render my statistical notes fragmentary in the extreme. Only Messrs Gregory² with whom I shared the trials of that excursion into the desert will be able to estimate fully the loss.

I have now nearly the whole of my herbarium of the latter part of the journey put in order and trust, that you recieved that part of the collection and the 160 bot. descriptions entrusted to Mr Elsey's care.³ I beg now to offer a review of some of those plants, which have been under my hands since the last mail left.

Cedreleae. Altho' the Red Cedar of New South Wales occurs in many catalogues as Cedrela Australis I have failed to find any description of it, and recommend therefore this short account of this important tree, which yielded so much useful timber since the last 70 years, hereafter to your kind consideration. As a spec. it seems to me very distinct both from Cedrela Toona & C. febrifuga. I intend to experiment on the bark.

Leguminosae. To your so expeditiously published account of Nematophyllum⁴ I have to add as ascertained during the latter

part of the expedition, that the lower leaves are often trifoliate. An important addition to the generic character of Oxycladium you will consider, that the replum is persistent, which I also had only after writing the first note an opportunity of observing. — Of Sesbania [venatorum] which with four other sp. I have described,⁵ the natives use the long straight stem for duck-spears. The collection contains some fine Psoraleas,⁶ Tephrosias,⁷ Indigoferas⁸ and Jacksonias; Jacksonia phylloclada being evidently the flatt stemmed Pultenaea of Dr Leichhardt's journal.⁹ This plant is imitated by a very rare Oxylobium, which introducing the feature of the flatt leafless Bossiaeas into that genus may be called O. bossiaeoides.¹⁰ Of Gompholobium I saw only one sp. in the North.¹¹ Of Euchilus & Podolobium & Mirbelia I have to offer 1 new species from the east.¹² Into the diagnoses of the numerous Cassias I introduced the condition of the stamens, which I find more consistent as I formerly believed. I do not think that we possess the true Cass. occidentalis in Australia. Of the three Australian Bauhinias¹³ I am able to give now a complete account. The finest of it shall bear your name; it is with B. Carroni one of the principle components of the Brigalow Scrub, which occupies such a large tract of country of East Australia. Mr Carron deserves the little bot. compliment I am paying him now for his bot. notes secured during Kennedys expedition, of which he was only destined with one man to survive, as you may see by his journal which I forwarded from Melbourne.¹⁴ I believe Bauhinia contains heterogenous elements and is to be divided. Of Erythrina we possess a third sp. on the East Coast, which forms a magnificent tree.¹⁵ My notes will establish a new genus allied to Cassia, which differs in pentandrous flowers and more essentially in longitudinally bursting anthers. It has the habit of a minute Cassia which suggested the appellation microcassia and ranges over the whole of Trop. Austr. as far as we went.¹⁶ There are three or four other new genera of Leguminosae, to which I shall refer more particularly hereafter. Brewsteria, a magnificent plant, you will have recieved by this time.¹⁷ Of Wistaria I have two beautiful species from Moreton Bay, both forming subgenera, one with large panicles of black-purplish flowers (W. atro-purpurea).¹⁸ Zornia supplied several very marked plants,¹⁹ and so did Desmodium.²⁰ A second sp. of Aeschynomene stands close to A. aspera.²¹ A common Taverniera, varying with 1-3 seeds may possibly be identical with T. spartea. Lespedeza does not appear in the North.

Rubiaceae. I am glad to announce some important additions to this order for the Austral Flora. Hedyotis includes spec. with the habit of Wahlenbergia, Mitrasacme, Scleranthus, Asperula, Galium &c suggesting so many specific names.²² Of Pavetta exist at least 2 spec., of Gardenia 4²³ of Canthium 5.²⁴ But the limits between Canthium, Coffea, Psychotria & even Ixora in application to the Australian species seemed to me by no means clear. A new genus, which I distinguish as Pogonolobus,²⁵ stands between Guettarda and Psychotria. Several other shrubs of this order were on account of their indifferent state not yet to be determined. Psychotria daphnoides A. C. of which you have given such an excellent figure²⁶ is common in the Araucaria Ranges.

Euphorbiaceae. From Mercurialis & Claoxylon I distinguish a n. g. of Echinocroton forming a good sized shrub: and three Phyllanthi which have besides their whole filaments also their anthers joined into one mass I call generically Synostemon.²⁷ The species, at least the Australian, have a peculiar habit. Of true Croton I obtained three species (Croton phebalioides & C. Hillii & C. subsericium)²⁸ Of Melanthesa one, and of Omolanthus also one distinct from O. populifolius in appendiculate capsules on a long stalk, [carin]ovulate seeds and leaves so much like Stillingia sebifora, that I derived the specific name from it.²⁹ Mappa seems formerly not found in Australia. Micrantheum yielded a sp. exactly intermediate between M. ericoides & hexandrum³⁰ (M. triandrum is perhaps referable to Phyllanthus?)³¹ Briedelia Australis n. sp. has only once been seen on the cliffs of the Victoria River.³² Glochidion racemosum differs in pubesecence, pentandrous flowers &c from Glochidion Australe of N.S. Wales.³³ A new Ricinocarpus comes so near to Bertya, that I preferred to reduce this genus rather than to establish a new one; and I may mention that the Tasmanian sp. of Bertya was previous to my knowledge of that genus referred to Ricinocarpus, and has been introduced as Ricin. sessiliflorus into my second report.³⁴ About a dozen Phyllanthi I described on the spot.³⁵ Euphorbia is poorly represented, one sp. however remarkable for palmately dissected flower scales (E. schizolepis.)³⁶ To this genus may possibly belong a tall tree once seen on the Gulf of Carpentaria with verticillate leaves. The stem was full of milky juice but I failed to obtain the flowers and fruits, altho' I cut a tree down for the purpose.

Chrysobalaneae. The Nonda tree of Leichhardt is a true Parinarium, a genus not yet mentioned from Australia, and I adopt the name nonda, since it is introduced into Arrowsmith's map, for this species.³⁷

Combretaceae: A new Lumnitzera is the most important plant of this order, and interesting as being not a seashore- but a mountain-plant, occuring on the arid summits of Newcastle Range.³⁸ I shall furnish you with the description of 6 Terminalias³⁹ and 1 Chuncoa.⁴⁰

Celastrineae To your Catha Cunninghami⁴¹ I have been able to add 3 other species. A new genus (Osteotheca)⁴² approaches in two species to Lophopetalum & Putterlickia having hard bony valves, very imperfect dissepiments and many seeds in the capsule. As a third species I refer to it, as far as a flowering specimen in Sir Thomas Mitchells collection permits me to judge the Melicytus? oleaster; and I believe also, that the Xylomeleum mentioned from trop. Australia by Dr Leichhardt belongs to this genus, since one species resembles at times Xylomeleum pyriforme in its foliage. Dr Leichhardt saw doubtless only the leaves.

Halorageae. Of this order I have little to offer but a new sp. of Myriophyllum (not Meionectis) with dicoccous fruits (M. dicoccum)⁴³

Rhamnaceae Ventilago racemosa is frequent and I believe constantly apetalous.⁴⁴ 2 sp. of Zizyphus occur.⁴⁵

Portulaceae. One sp. of Portulaca is referable almost to Calandrinia, having free persistent sepals and a circumcised capsule. It resembles Calandr. calyptrata. 2 sp. of Trianthema, distinct from those, mentioned on a former occasion, are characterized by a solitary style and a thin very depressed operculum, which induces me to distinguish them as Brachypyxis⁴⁶ forming as a subgenus a transit to Ancistrostigma. An other new kind has the leaves of Basella. Thus with the formerly discovered plants this order has been considerably augmented in Australian Botany.

Compositae One of the sp. of Sphaeranthus has only the male flowers enlarged, an other (perhaps Sp. glaber DC) both male and female contrary to the hitherto published accounts of the genus. A remarkable subgenus of Glossogyne (Trioncinia) is characterized by a very short style, a cylindrical akenium, and three retroflexed Aristas.⁴⁷ Of Spilanthes I found a second Australian sp.,⁴⁸ a good deal resembling Wedelia & Wollastonia. The two last genera showed also respectively 2 n.sp.⁴⁹ Senecio can boast only of one distinct and unknown kind, which I owe to the quick eye and hand of Mr Hill.⁵⁰ A second sp. of Pluchea is tetrandrous;⁵¹ and is it not perhaps a more general character in this order to see the number of the anthers correspond to the divisions of the flowers? The distinction between Pluchea and Blumea is in some instances not easy, as some sp. of the latter genus proved to me sufficiently. The basaltic plains of Peak Downs enabled me to add a Ixiolaena (I brevicompta)⁵² 1 Helipterum[,]⁵³ 2 Rutidosis sp⁵⁴ and 1 Brachycome to the collection.⁵⁵ In Sir Thomas Mitchells herbarium I find a plant which appears to me to be the type of a new genus: it differs from Baccharis chiefly in having the deciduous scales of the involucre spirally inserted upon a cylindrical persistent receptacle or rachis, so that it may appropriately be called Spiropodium.⁵⁶ The genus Rhodanthemum with 4 or 5 sp. is more nearly allied to Pluchea, than to Vittadinia, as I formerly thought.⁵⁷ Of Eurybia I brought but one additional new sp. home.⁵⁸ Kippistia (Centaurea riparia DC) resembling Leuzea in many points, but has an uniseriate pappus.

Hydroleae. The Austr. sp. seem to be scarcely distinct from H. Zeilanica⁵⁹

Solanaceae. the latter part of our expedition brought into my possession 12 new Solanum species,⁶⁰ an addition that can not surprise us, when we remember, that since R. Browns exertions scarcely any but my own few previously discovered sp. have been added from Australia to this extensive genus. Many of the kinds were extremely local and some very beautiful, so that I recommend them with their ample description drawn up on the spot of growth to your kind attention. I may be permitted to remark, that I found no difficulty in discriminating them, when duly regarding position and [structure] of the fruit bearing calyx, structure of berry, lenght of filaments &c. Three sp. occur equally prickly and armed, and also not less than 3 have a four-celled berry. — Datura Leichhardtii belongs to the Sect. Dutra and approaches next to D. alba.⁶¹

Myoporineae The white flowering Stenochilus bignoniaeflorus occurs also in Central Australia but I am inclined to refer it to Pholidia.⁶² A magnificent Eremophila I wished to distinguish with Mr Latrobe's name,⁶³ it may prove at the same time that the unlimited kindness of the first Governor of Victoria was also in the desert vividly retained in my mind, indeed that it never will sink in oblivion.

Verbenaceae Dr Hooker will be pleased to hear, that I have added an East-Australian plant to his New Zealandian Genus Teucridium. It imitates it well in habit and can scarcely be removed from that genus, altho' the fruit is spherical.⁶⁴ The first endemic Australian sp. of Verbena has at last been discovered; it comes near to Verbena stricta Vahl.⁶⁵

Asclepiadeae. Bidaria is represented by a new sp. very distinct from the only Australian one, with which I am acquainted.⁶⁶ The other plants include new species of Cynoctonum,⁶⁷ Marsdenia⁶⁸ & Gongronema,⁶⁹ and what I consider a well marked new genus (Rhyncharrhena)⁷⁰

Apocyneae. Alstonia constricta n. sp. has been brought home already by the late Sir Th. Mitchell and a second sp. occurs in N.W. Australia.⁷¹ Of Parsonsia I noticed six different ones,⁷² all destitute of the calycine scales; one forms on account of a valvate praeflorescence, ventricose tube of the corolla broadly dilated tailless anthers and a crenulate disk at least a subgenus, which may recieve the name Gastranthus.⁷³ Mr Hill has given me also a new Melodinus,⁷⁴ which likewise deserves subgenerical distinction, producing a double series of bifid scales, 5 in each. A spec. of Cerbera, not unlike C. Manghas, is in so imperfect a state noticed only on one locality, that its proper determination will be possible only by comparing the allied species.

Pimeleae A new sp. of Pimelea from trop. East Australia is perhaps the finest of all. It is herbaceous has blood red flowers arranged in a spike, which fruit bearing often exceeds a foot in length.⁷⁵

Proteaceae yielded nothing new but 1 sp. of Grevillea⁷⁶ and one of Stenocarpus.⁷⁷

Najadeae. I have the satisfaction to introduce 1 Aponogeton⁷⁸ and 2 Ouvirandras into the Australian flora.⁷⁹ The former producing an eatable tuber, alluded to already by poor Dr Leichhardt. A new genus (Leiostigma)⁸⁰ has the sepals and stigmas of Ouvirandra and the anthers and capsules of Triglochin or nearly so. Potamogeton only is enlarged by two n. sp.⁸¹

Juncagineae. Triglochin dubium, a rare plant, is to be referred to Cycnogeton, but this genus should remain in proximity of that, from which it was separated and not be placed into a different natural order. Dr Sonder has, I believe, written and doubtless with his usual care on these plants, but I regret not having recieved his paper yet.⁸² He finds in the Zannichellia of my collection a new genus, and you will observe, that I described the six celled anthers in my transmitted manuscripts some years ago.⁸³

Hydrocharideae. Ottelia Indica I have noticed with blue flowers in North Australia, and I shall soon bring either Hydrocharis Morsus Ranae or an allied plant as an Australian Citizen under your notice.

With Dr Elsey I transmitted to you to Dr Harvey and to Mr Latrobe a set of Mr Gregory's charts. I am doing a most gratifying duty in informing you now, that Mr Gregory has also commemorated your illustrious name in Geography by connecting it with the S. E. watercourse leading into the desert, from which we were repelled by want of water. This streamlet disappointed our hopes of leading us into Central Australia, still it remains a remarkable geographical feature, and when I add that many fine plants were seen there for the first time, you will be less sorry, that he could not connect your name with some new noble river. —

Mr Gregory thanks you for your attention of sending him the copy of my letter, in which I not only join, but also expressing my great thankfulness to you for your unceasing kindness towards me and my humble labours, which you far overrate. His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly repeated publicly some kind remarks of yours about the humble writer of these lines, and thus I have recieved a mighty support, which I shall not fail to turn out to advantage for our favourite science. The Philos. Institute created me not only an honorary member, but manifested expressions of kindness & sympathy, which I shall in joyful recollection retain to the end of my days.⁸⁴

7. April 1856.⁸⁵

I finished unpacking the damaged plants to day, and I need not assure you, Sir William, that I never performed a more disheartening task. The official reply of Mr Baines, to whom this important collection was entrusted is so unsatisfactory to me, that I can not retract my pronouncing this severe loss as originated by the want of sufficient care on his side at this instance Grief and disappointment have made me quite ill for the time.

Mr Hill sends me a few fine plants again, amongst which I percieve an Euodia and a new Sterculiaceous plant, of which I shall give soon an account.⁸⁶

Dr Bennett intends to send with my collection a sample of the essential oil of Eucalyptus citriodora, for which Mr Moore⁸⁷ supplied the leaves. The quantity of oil which they contain is unusually large namely 1/74 of the fresh leaves. Mr Baines sends a sketch of Adansonia Gregorii, which completely resembles its west african proto type in habit according to a drawing of Dr Bennett, who most strikingly compares the woodcuts of the Baobab in some of the best elementary works to a mushroom! (By Dr Bennetts drawing I learn, that the fruit stalks of Adansonia digitata are much larger than in A. Gregorii.)⁸⁸ Both he as well as Mr Moore directed my attention to the discrepancy between your Eupomatia laurina, which you had figured so beautifully and the Brownian plant. The former, introduced by Mr Moore from Moreton Bay to the establishment, which supplied the object of the figure in Bot. Mag, occurs also in my transmitted collection, whilst the Brownian Eupomatia inhabits the woods of Illawarra and towards Sydney. My specimens are very imperfect, still I must admit the difference when consulting Bauers plate,⁸⁹ and if you agree with our views, I would beg to suggest you would distinguish the new species with Mr Bennets name,⁹⁰ who not only deserves a scientific tribute for his ardent cultivation of the natural sciences, but particularly for so much valuable bot. information contained in his "Wanderings in N.S. Wales"⁹¹ and in other of his writings.

Asperula divaricata Bischoff, described from a plant of uncertain origin is evidently a native of Australia and perhaps identical with Galium geminifolium, at least likewise illustrative of the stipular nature of part of the leaves in Stellatae. — Of Hypoestes I obtained a second sp,⁹² of Escallonieae seemingly a new genus as also of Sapoteae.⁹³ The latter, very imperfectly seen touches on Argania, and excited already Dr Leichhardts attention on account of the very viscid drupe. Bidens pilosa is common on the East coast of Australia.

I hope to be able to forward all the collections in proper order in about one month hence, when I shall instantly return to Victoria to resume my duties there. Mr Wilhelmi returned from his collecting journey, so that we will be able to send many good seeds and specimens more from Victoria.

I subscribe myself with all sentiments of regard and in greatest obedience

Ferd Mueller

Adansonia digitata

Adansonia Gregorii

Aeschynomene aspera

Alstonia constricta

Ancistrostigma

Apocyneae

Aponogeton

Argania

Asclepiadeae

Asperula

Asperula divaricata

Baccharis

Basella

Bauhinia Carroni

Bauhinia hookeri

Bertya

Bidaria

Bidens pilosa

Blumea

Bossiaea

Brachypyxis

Brewsteria

Briedelia Australis

Calandrinia calyptrata

Canthium

Cassia occidentalis

Catha Cunninghami

Cedrela Australis

Cedrela febrifuga

Cedrela Toona

Cedreleae

Celastrineae

Centaurea riparia

Cerbera Manghas

Chrysobalaneae

Claoxylon

Coffea

Combretaceae

Compositae

Croton Hillii

Croton phebalioides

Croton subsericium

Cycnogeton

Cynoctonum

Datura alba

Datura Leichhardtii

Desmodium

Echinocroton

Eremophila

Erythrina

Escallonieae

Eucalyptus citriodora

Euchilus

Euodia

Euphorbia schizolepis

Euphorbiaceae

Eupomatia laurina

Eurybia

Galium

Galium geminifolium

Gardenia

Gastranthus

Glochidion Australe

Glochidion racemosum

Glossogyne

Gompholobium

Gongronema

Grevillea

Guettarda

Halorageae

Hedyotis

Helipterum

Hydrocharideae

Hydrocharis Morsus Ranae

Hydrolea Zeilanica

Hypoestes

Indigofera

Ixiolaena brevicompta

Ixora

Jacksonia phylloclada

Juncagineae

Kippistia

Leguminosae

Leiostigma

Lespedeza

Leuzea

Lophopetalum

Lumnitzera

Mappa

Marsdenia

Meionectis

Melanthesa

Melicytus oleaster

Melodinus

Mercurialis

Micrantheum ericoides

Micrantheum hexandrum

Micrantheum triandrum

Microcassia

Mirbelia

Mitrasacme

Myoporineae

Myriophyllum dicoccum

Najadeae

Nematophyllum

Omolanthus populifolius

Osteotheca

Ottelia Indica

Ouvirandra

Oxycladium

Oxylobium bossiaeoides

Parsonsia

Pavetta

Pholidia

Phyllanthus

Pimelea

Pimeleae

Pluchea

Podolobium

Pogonolobus

Portulaca

Portulaceae

Potamogeton

Proteaceae

Psoralea

Psychotria

Psychotria daphnoides

Putterlickia

Rhamnaceae

Rhodanthemum

Rhyncharrhena

Ricinocarpus sessiliflorus

Rubiaceae

Sapoteae

Scleranthus

Senecio

Sesbania venatorum

Solanaceae

Solanum

Sphaeranthus glaber

Spilanthes

Spiropodium

Stenocarpus

Stenochilus bignoniaeflorus

Stillingia sebifora

Synostemon

Taverniera spartea

Tephrosia

Terminalia

Teucridium

Trianthema

Triglochin dubium

Trioncinia

Ventilago racemosa

Verbena stricta

Verbenaceae

Vittadinia

Wahlenbergia

Wedelia

Wistaria atro-purpurea

Wollastonia

Xylomeleum pyriforme

Zannichellia

Zizyphus

Zornia