To Joseph Hooker   16 June 1870

16/6/70

To day, dear Dr Hooker, I received a Phallus, which represents a species never seen by me before. I have hastily drawn up a diagnosis and placed the specimen in alcohol, with a view of sending it to you in one of the next cases. This autumn (it my 23 in Australia) is the wettest, experienced by me, and this may account for the springing up of fungi, such as we will not see in ordinary seasons. I obtained however only one specimen. Your great Mycologist Berkeley will doubtless at a glance be able to judge, even by merely reading my notes, whether this Phallus is known from any other country. My Mycologic portion of the library is far too limited to settle this point. So perhaps you will be so kind to transfer this paper for the Rev. Gentlemans opinion, unless indeed you recognize the species at once as one known to you.

With regardful salutation

Ferd. von Mueller

Please keep half the photograms sent by this mail and send the rest to Dr Sonder.

The box pr Suffolk has just savely¹ arrived.²

Phallus vitellinus

Spithamaeus, volva fere globosa albida, stipite vitellino cylindrico supra medium sensim attenuato basi gradatim contracto et pallescente undique poris irregularibus partim majusculis spongioso, pileo tenui-conico ad apicem obtusam³ miniato sed hinc non subito ampliato, pilei strato interno squalide aurantiaco granulari-ruguloso, strato externo sordide nigro-olivaceo tenui mox deliquescente.

Prope rivum Dry Creek juxta Doon Australiae felicis.

Odor totius fungi inamoenus, nec tamen foetidissimus. Stipes cavus, prope medium semiunciam⁴ crassus, igitur eo Phalli impudici duplo tenuior. Volva sesquipollice,⁵ paulo brevior⁶ intus valde mucilaginosa. Pileus unciam paulo excedens, basi diametro semipollicari, quo modo pileus minus amplus quam is Phalli⁷ impudici redditur; stratum interius nullo modo clathratum, sed minute et irregulariter verruculosum, nec circum apicem in marginum expandens.⁸

Phallus vitellinus