From Charles Prentice to Ferdinand von Mueller   6 July 1874

July 6. 1874.

Brisbane

Dear Baron

I have to thank you for a number of the Fragmenta, & for a resumé of [Marches] usuelles¹. Further I want your assistance with the Enclosed well marked plant, brought to me as you see it, in a dried state, and which I cannot satisfy myself about.²

I have only just seen the sixth vol. of the Fl. Australiensis: as to the irritability of Arthrochilus, a better if later name than Drakaea, I can only say I have tried many of the flowers, & can detect very little or no true irritability, though the [bruneus]³ colour is usually accompanied by it, notably in Caleana, & in the labellum of Pterostylis acuminata.

Caladenia caerulea is a common sps about Brisbane, but not noticed as a Queensland plant.

Arethusa [virginea]⁴ in its early winter form, is both in locality and appearance different enough from our Common C. carnea.

Is there a specific difference between Polypodium urophyllum, and your Goniopt. Kennedyii?⁵ the former or what I have been accustomed to call such I found in a single locality near Brisbane long since; the latter I only Remember from a fragment brought me by Mr Bailey which I cannot now find. I should like mightily to have a week's inspection of your Melbourne herbarium.

I have lately seen a few ferns collected by Dallachy, & given by him to an amateur; northern ferns, all common species, except perhaps your unluckily named Alsoph. Rebeccae,⁶ and since renamed;⁷ yet he seems to have been a most successful collector.

Believe me, dear Baron

very Sincerely Yours

Chas . Prentice.

Alsophila Rebeccae

Arethusa virginea

Arthrochilus

Caladenia caerulea

Caladenia carnea

Caleana

Drakaea

Goniopteris Kennedyii

Polypodium urophyllum

Pterostylis acuminata