To William Hooker   10 August 1857

Melbourne bot Garden, 10. Aug 1857.

My dear Sir William.

No European mail having arrived since the despatch of my July letters, I have but little to communicate. Even little botanically, for the last month has for the greater part been employed in active duties on the botanic garden. I found however time of working a little on orchids, and beg to forward in this letter a few specimens and notes. I directed them to Professor Lindley, who probably will possess greater facilities for making use of them, and should feel delighted to see my views about the distinctiveness of Arthrochilus as a genus confirmed.¹

I reviewed also the salsolaceous plants of the northern Expedition along with others of former collections, and have now for the first time elaborated the characters of several genera and many species, which were transmitted to you many years ago. The most interesting of these plants seems to me a second species of Dysphania, quite unlike in habit to its congener and indeed I think to all Salsolaceae.

Dysphania Plantaginella, erecta. pumila, subglanduloso puberula, foliis ovatis oblongisve,² glomerulis in spicas cylindraceas terminalis aphyllas dense collectis,³ calycis laciniis dorso valde inflatis glabris margine subtilissime ciliolatis, fructiferis diu cohaerentibus cum caryopside[,] laevi fusca nitente ovata secedentibus,

Ad rivum Sturts Creek

Australiae subcentralis⁴

At the close of the last mail, my requisition for European plants was not prepared.⁵ I take the liberty of enclosing it now, praying that you Sir William, will have the great kindness of forwarding it to such a nurseryman, as is likely to execute it best; I shall in all probability be able to purchase a large number of plants henceforth every year, and look forward with much interest to the new connection thus originating with th[e]⁶ establishment. Of such plants, enumerated in the list, as will readily be prepared from seeds, I do of course not expect living plants, altho' I did not furnish separate lists for seeds. Ornamental evergreen trees and useful plants is what this establishment at present requires. I am laying several acres of ground now out for an systematical arrangement and shall endeavour to obtain next year a sufficiency of various coniferous trees for transforming the Yarra-declivities of this garden int[o] a pinetum.

Our collector has returned from Wilsons promontory,⁷ and a collection of woods and of living plants will be forwarded to you, as soon as the former are dry and the latter established.

With expressions of sincere regard I remain,

my dear Sir William,

obediently yours

Ferd. Mueller

Arthrochilus

Dysphania Plantaginella

Salsolaceae