To Miles Berkeley   9 September 1873

Melbourne

9/9/73

 

I am anxious to ask you, venerable Sir, whether Streinz' nomenclator fungorum1 can generally be relied on. I have this work since some years, and as gradually I have to do something by my own researches on Fungi for the cryptogamic volumes of the Australian Flora,2 I am anxious to have your opinion on this opus, as it facilitates reference.

I trust you will kindly spare a few moments of your precious time to shed light by your unrivalled experience on the little Clavaria (or whatever it may be) which devastates latterly our Lolium fields.

How nobly you stood with others to Hooker in his struggles!!3 I have no such friend here, but Mr Darwin might induce his neighbour, Mr Edw. Wilson, to stop the mad persecution of his papers here against me, & therewith my ruin!

With deep regards

Ferd. von Mueller

 

If providence spares me life & health, I will devote a year to the study of fungi here in the field, when the phanerogamic portion of the Flora is ready. As yet I could not afford to purchase the necessary works for such studies, my means being absorbed in getting the needful works for the current volumes. The Government funds me no books.

 

Clavaria

Lolium

Streinz (1862).
Bentham (1863-78). No cryptogamic volumes were produced.
See MacLeod (1974).

Please cite as “FVM-73-09-09,” 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/73-09-09