Melbourne bot. Garden,
30/1/73.
I managed under much adversities, dear Dr Hooker, to get already to day away by the Hampshire, an additional case full of dried plants for Mr Bentham's use. I had to pack it hurriedly, as the ship actually sails this afternoon, and so I have not been able to include the Haemodoraceae and a second parcel of Scitamineae. Otherwise Mr Bentham has by this sending all Monochlamydeae with adnate calyx tube complete.
Capt. Ridgers, the Commander of the Hampshire, is an old friend of mine, and I have therefore entrusted him also with a glass case of living plants for you, he being willing to bestow particular care on the transit. The case contains among other rarieties the blue flowered Andersonia coerulea, which is one of the only three existing Epacrideae with purely blue corolla all 3 being as pointed out by me S.W.A.1 plants. You have no idea of their peculiar look, until you see them in a living state and the strong plant now sent would give a splendid plate for the Bot. Magazine.2 To fill the case at the last moment I as a private gift sent 3 baskets of Lepidosperma & Xerotes,3 also a parcel of crude Algae for Professor Dickie.
Regardfully always
your Ferd. von Mueller
The generous allusion to me in the just arrived number of "Nature" has been a valiant support to me just now during the crisis.4
The Haemodoraceae & rest of Scitamineae shall come by one of the next clippers in a few weeks, together with all Liliaceae & allied plants, so that only then Glumaceae will remain, unless indeed new assailments on my position take place. A person, who was sent out 2 years ago by Edward Wilson as an Agricultural Reporter endeavours to [absorb] as Secretary of the new Agricultural Department also my Authority [here as Director]5
I have not paid the freight for the two cases
Andersonia coerulea
Epacrideae
Glumaceae
Haemodoraceae
Lepidosperma
Liliaceae
Monochlamydeae
Scitamineae
Xerotes
Please cite as “FVM-73-01-30,” 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 28 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/73-01-30