Newyears eve 1869.
I regret very much to hear of your indisposition, dear Mr Bentham,1 but trust as you are so entirely your own master, that you can and will give yourself all the rest and attention, which at your age so much more than in former years is needed for the preservation of your vigor & health. We cannot afford to have you long an invalid; so you must always take early care at the approaching danger of any illness.
I am working on Liliaceae. The reduction of the species will be very great. I have done also a little among the Grasses of late. Thus I shall get the Monocotyledoneae gradually into order for you.
The enclosed Prostanthera may only be a variety of one of the simple-leaved species, just like Teucrium racemosum produces a three lobed variety.
With best wishes for the new year
your regardful
Ferd. von Mueller.
Liliaceae
Monocotyledoneae
Prostanthera
Teucrium racemosum
Please cite as “FVM-69-12-31,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/69-12-31