To Joseph Hooker   6 December 1865

6/12/65

I have sent, dear Dr Hooker, by the Roxburgh Castle under favor of Capt Dinsdale a box with tubers of terrestrial Orchideae,¹ according to a desire expressed by you.² While naming a number of Orchids this spring I placed my whole collection into order & find that in all Australia not more than about 120 species can be reckoned to exist. Some brief notes you find on them in my fragmenta.³

Lyperanthus suaveolens, you will observe, is also a Tasmanian plant. Of the Mesembryanthemum Australe⁴ I send you a small curious variety, which covers uninterruptedly as an extensive carpet very many square yards of ground in subalpine depressions & forms a most beautiful red & green carpet when in flower, the rosy tint being visible for miles. I fancy the variety would be hardy in the South of England. Living plants have been forwarded to you recently on two distinct occasions.

I trust the British Government will now secure the noble collection, which your lamented great father accumulated as a private property at Kew, and not allow his descendents to have no pecuniar benefits from the monetary outlay and labouring toil which (I know it as well as any one) the acquirement of such treasures absorbs⁵

I gave my private collection, commenced in my 14th year in Denmark away as a donation to this establishment; though the private expense incurred for the Australian portion especially is absolutely incredible & well nigh ruinous. Such sacrifices no one should be compelled to make, who like you as a father of a florishing family has [next] of all paternal obligations to fulfill. Can a letter of mine on this subject to Earl Russell be of any utility to you?

I sent your worthy father a piece of a frond of the only Cyathea, hitherto known to exist in the Austral Continent. Would you have the friendliness⁶ to compare it with any existing species.⁷ I was anxious to attach the noble Edw. Wilsons name to the species, his philanthropic labours concerning especially Victoria & calling for this reward among plants of Victoria. I suppose you took notice of the descriptions of N. Z. plants furnished in 1862 by Turczaninow in the Moscou Bulletin from S. Edw. Home's collections.⁸ Would you like to see my N. Z. herbarium before you publish the second volume of your Manual?⁹ Some notes on N. Z. Asters occur in the fascicles of the fragmenta now sent.¹⁰

Dendrobium Tattonianum of the Bot Mag 5537 is what I introduced as D. canaliculatum into the 3 vol of the fragmenta.¹¹

I cannot help thinking that RBr's description of the labellum (perhaps after an imperfect and certainly after a dry specimen) is inaccurate and that this is the very plant of Banks.

D. Johannis is nearest to D. undulatum.

The Rev Mr Leightons letter came back to me after 6 month; pray allow me to send it to you to be correctly adressed.¹²

I should be so glad to afford my dear almost paternal friend Edward Wilson any little pleasure now while he is undergoing the cataract operation successively on both eyes. Among Victorian plants I had of late only one sufficiently noble to bestow his name on. This is the only Cyathea from the Australian Continent. Would you favor me by comparing the small pinna I sent to your lamented father with all the forms of C. medelluris & its allies & let me know the result. If it is favorable this fern tree can be offered to Mr Wilson as an elegant souvenir at his next birthday.

It will be worthy of your inspection the great Meteorite at the British Museum¹³

Tubers of orchids sent by Roxburgh Castle. 6./12./65.¹⁴

4. Thelymitra sp.

5. Caladenia sp.

9.   " Menziesii Br

11. Corisanthes fimbriata¹⁵

12. Prasophyllum flavum

13.     " elatum Br

14. Pterostylis cucullata Br

18. Thelymitra aristata Lindl.

19. Calochilus campestris Br

23. Lyperanthus nigricans Br

24. Thelymitra Macmillani Ferd Muell.

25.   " carnea Br

27. Microtis atrata Lindl

28.   " viridis Ferd Muell.

34. Diuris sulphurea Br

37.   " maculata Smith

39. various sp. mixed.¹⁶

I hope the large turf of Xanthorrhoea minor did well arrive; the plant ought to be a great acquisition.¹⁷ Through Mr W Joffrey, a school companion of yours I have sent within the last days a box with the small variety of Mesembryanthem¹⁸ Australe, which actually forms a purple carpet over our depressed subalpine meadows when in flower. Nothing indeed of the kind could be more beautiful & I wished this variety could be sent for naturalisation to the Mediterranean shores. I have sent also again plants of the rarely seeding Tetragonia implexicoma, which I employ on account of its enormous size & climbing habit for covering the iron bowers of the establishment It ought to be in every south european garden & may be hardy in Britain. Rev. Mr Lightons¹⁹ letter written by me was returned after 6 month; it seems he changed his abode. Will you kindly forward it

I rejoyce that you are recovered from your severe illness & that the great Kew establishment is under so able and so worthy an administration as yours. All what lies in my power, whether in an official or in a private capacity, shall be done to render myself useful to you. Command my services always without hesitation.

Your²⁰ in deep regards

Ferd Mueller

Aster

Caladenia Menziesii

Calochilus campestris

Corisanthes fimbriata

Cyathea medullaris

Dendrobium canaliculatum

Dendrobium Johannis

Dendrobium Tattonianum

Dendrobium undulatum

Diuris maculata

Diuris sulphurea

Lyperanthus nigricans

Lyperanthus suaveolens

Mesembryanthemum Australe

Microtis atrata

Microtis viridis

Orchideae

Prasophyllum elatum

Prasophyllum flavum

Pterostylis cucullata

Tetragonia implexicoma

Thelymitra aristata

Thelymitra carnea

Thelymitra Macmillani

Xanthorrhoea minor