To George Bentham   25 January 1864

Melbourne botan.

Garden 25./1./64.¹

My dear Mr Bentham.

At last by the "Great Britain" this week the rest of the Myrtaceae will be sent to you, and as this celebrated ship performs its voyages always with such rapidity, it is not unlikely, that you will be in possession of this consignment by end of March. I have reviewed some Chamaelaucieae & some Baeckeae and deposited their definitions in the byefollowing almost completed number of the Fragmenta.² Thryptomene (which Endlicher seems to have named so on account of its readily dropping leaves from ϑ ρυπτόμενοσ and which some writers have incorrectly spelled Tryptomene) is in no other way distinct from Baeckea but by its 1 celled ovary with very few or 1 ovule. I know 14 species of it, if Dr Hookers Tasmanian one has the 6 small almost obliter[ed] bracteoles as in the plate illustrated.³ I believe you will find my dissections correct so that I have not brought any Thryptomene to Baeckea or any of the latter into the former. The embryonic characters of Thryptomene & Baeckea I have given; they are curious and represent certainly not the homogeneous embryo mentioned by Schauer, as there are always two distinct minute cotyledons & a comparatively very large radicle. Were my Myrtaceae not with you, I should have examined the embryos of all genera on this occasion, as I feel convinced that generic notes may be derived from them as well amongst the Myrtaceae xerocarpicae as chymocarpicae This seems evident when an embryo as that of Eucalyptus is contrasted with that of Baeckea or Fabricia. Eucalyptus globulus has it with four cotyledons which clasp around the axillary radicle. Something similar I have seen in one of the tropical species and probably this is the typical form of the embryo of the genus. — But to proceed.

Baeckea is a very natural genus[,] if taken in its wide extent and after examining all my material I can see no advantage in keeping up Schauers new genera.⁴ It seems to me even inadvisable to maintain Babingtonia, for the opening of the anthers with pores is one of degree and not absolute unless we establish intermediate genera with anthers opening with prolonged pores or short slits. The latter may even be seen in Eucalyptus, and Thryptomene has species as well opening with pores as others opening the anthers by fissures. Some species of Baeckea have as well 2 as 3-celled ovaries. Even Rinzia may be brought back to Baeckea, as other species have dilated stamens. Pritzelia or Scholtzia differs in its ovary cells having 1-2 ovules but not otherwise from Baeckea in the sense in which I adopt this genus. The inflorescence is not of generic value in Baeckea. But you will be best able to judge for yourself.

The Box pr Great Britain will bring Baeckea 2 parcels

	Leptospermum	one -
	Scholtzia (Pritzelia)	one -
	Kunzea	one
	Thryptomene & Lhotzkya	1
	other Chamaelaucieae	1.

Kunzea is but slightly different from Leptospermum through connecting forms. The shortness of the stamens of Leptospermum is its best character, as not all Leptosperma have woody fruits; the form of the fruit of the latter gives a secondary generic character. Fabricia is in no way generically separate from Leptosperm[um], as on comparison of my plants you will observe.

By the "Essex", which sailed on the first of this month, I forwarded

Case No. 22

	Callistemon  Fasc	5
	Tristania	3
	Verticordia	1
	Syzigium	1
	Angophora	1
	Melaleuca	11
	Leptopermum 5	4
	Myrtaceae suppl	1
	Leguminosae	1
		28.

Case No. 21.

Went pr Sussex on the 12 Decemb. 1863 & contained 25 fasc of Eucalyptus & 1 Calyciflorae suppl & 1 Myrtaceae suppl. also Case No. 20. with 27 fascicles Eucalypti.

You will have thus in all 102 fascicles of Myrtaceae, which I trust you will not regard an unimportant collection, as it is more than half of the extent of all Cunninghams Collections.⁶

Angophora

Babingtonia

Baeckea

Callistemon

Calyciflorae

Chamaelaucieae

Eucalyptus globulus

Fabricia

Kunzea

Leguminosae

Leptospermum

Lhotzkya

Melaleuca

Myrtaceae

Pritzelia

Rinzia

Scholtzia

Syzigium

Thryptomene

Tristania

Tryptomene

Verticordia