To Joseph Hooker   11 August 1870

Melbourne bot.Garden

11/8/70.

Let me thank you, dear Dr Hooker, for your goodness in sending me several valuable seeds by last mail. I am also obliged for your transferring the Goldmass imitated in Gypsum to the British Museum. As yet however I have no acknowledgement from Prof Maskelyne or any one else on the subject.¹

What a remarkable paucity of Urticeae in Australia! This was never more apparent then when we look over Weddell's elaboration for D.C.²

In looking over your admirable Students Book³ I was struck by the absense of Juncus pygmaeus Rich. On the islands of the coast of Schleswig I saw it accompanied by Juncus capitatus Weigel. Hence I think that Juncus pygmaeus will yet be found in the Channel Islands. An other seacoast plant might be sought for there and elsewhere in Britain, just as it occurs on the Danish [Hallige,]⁴ namely Chenolea hirsuta (Kochia hirsuta Nolte.) That plant grows much with Suaeda maritima there and is so similar to it at a distance that it may be readily passed without notice.

your always

regardful

Ferd. von Mueller⁵

Chenolea hirsuta

Juncus capitatus

Juncus pygmaeus

Kochia hirsuta

Suaeda maritima

Urticeae