To George Bentham   4 December 1869

4/12/69

I was pleased, dear Mr Bentham, to hear of you again by last mail;¹ and I am glad to learn, that you continue in good health, & progress so much with the flora. Of the supposed Garuga from Liverpool River I have no fruit. So the plant must remain doubtful. I do not think, that I erred in matching the flowers & fruits of Ganophyllum, my series of specimens being very beautiful. I will enquire once more into this subject.

I know nothing of American letters, adressed to Mr Merriman. Perhaps it is merely an inscription on an old piece of paper. So it might be well to open the parcels. Your note on Cryphia is interesting. I suspected a mistake of R. Br.

I thank you much for your gratulation to the dignity of a member of the Order of St Michael & St George, and only wish the honor had fallen on a more worthy man.

There exists no necessity of recognizing my Wuerttembergian Nobility, though in having accepted it, I am bound to use the addition to my name in my ordinary signatures. But that need not be the cause² in your work.

I find we have 3 Lygodia in Australia and it appears from the diagnosis, that R Br's L. semibipinnatum is L. japonicum, and not L. scandens, as Mr Baker thinks.³ L. japonicum I have from several localities.

Lately Mt Dryander has been ascended by Mr Kilner & Mr Fitzalan. Beyond a new Cassia no novelties seem to occur, but the Mount gives us some new localities.

I have had many extra calls on my time; so I have not done much for Phytography, but hope to do so after Christmas. A new lot of Arnhem's Land plants is to be sent to me by Mr Goyder,⁴ and I expect also a full consignment (a second one) from Lord Howe's Island

With best regards

Ferd. von Mueller

Cryphia

Ganophyllum

Garuga

Lygodium japonicum

Lygodium scandens

Lygodium semibipinnatum