To Miles Berkeley   14 July 1872

Melbourne

bot Museum

14/7/72

 

I was much gratified, rev. and venerable friend, when I received by last mail your kind letter,1 and I feel deeply indebted, that you have spared some of your precious time in the elaboration and remissal of my fungi. I am however grieved to hear of you indisposition, but trust, as your constitution is so strong and good, that you will have shaken off your illness long before this entirely

The occasions of seeing Aseroë in a living state or well preserved occur but very rarely and last of all to one, who is not likely to travel anymore extensively. But if such an occasion should arise, I will watch and examine the species closely.

Your workings on the fungi of all parts of the globe are marvellous, and therewith you have stamped your illustrious name for ever on every square mile of the inhabitable world.

I am proud of the possession of your autographic photogram for the series of those of illustrious correspondents.2 My poor picture, made in 1865 (since which time I have not been in an atelier) follows herewith for your kind acceptance.

The Phallus described by me3 was seen only in a single specimen by me, and is placed in Alcohol. I will send it to you in the next case, which is to go to Hooker. As it is an unique sample, it might be desirable to figure it. I will gladly avail myself of your permission to send you any more fungi, which may reach me, or which I may pick up myself

Trusting that providence will grant you an Humboldtian age4 together with firm health I remain your regardful & grateful

Ferd von Mueller

 

I have now also a Phallus of the section with a reticulate mantle from two widely separated localities, but only one specimen from each.5

 

Aseroë

Phallus

1
Letter not found.
2
There is no photograph of Berkeley in M's surviving album at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
3
The only Phallus known to have been described by M, (P. vitellinus) was described in B70.12.03, p. 122.
4
Humboldt died at the age of 90.
5
One of these localities was the Richmond River, NSW; see M to E. Ramsay, 20 December 1872. See also M to M. Berkeley, 12 February 1872; and M to G. Bentham, 15 July 1872 (in this edition as 72-07-15a).

Please cite as “FVM-72-07-14a,” 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 16 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/72-07-14a