To George Bentham   2 November 1874

Melbourne, 2/11/74.

Since last I wrote to you, dear Mr Bentham, I have visited Mount Oberon on Wilson's promontory,¹ which large granitic mount I saw but could not reach in 1853. Against my expectations it yielded nothing new or rare, whereas usually any isolated high Hill has something remarkable of plants on it. I found however a few other plants new for locality elsewhere, and among them Pteris tremula for the first time in Victoria.

I am amidst the Cyperoideae still, and it will take me til the end of the year to finish their review, as I can only spare part of my time amidst many other duties of my crippled Department for such kind of work. But I hope to have done with them before the end of the year, so that they can all appear yet in the 8th vol. of the fragmenta.² The difficulty of dealing with R Brown's Cyperi is very great as [so many species are] cosmopolitan [in the warmer regio]ns of the Globe [*particularly as I can]not inspect the ori[ginal]³ specimens.

In the prodromus generally not even the number of the stigmas (or what it is equivalent to it the edges of the fruit) are mentioned. The pages on Cyperi are certainly the very weakest of the whole prodromus, as the species are much overrated, ill defined and many prior ones not recognized. It is strange that the illustrious man did not foresee, that of his (supposed) 40 species surely more than 5 would be Indian ones! However everything is more or less imperfect in this world.

I trust that the Liliaceae, sent by the Northumberland, did reach you safely & pleased you, so also the Junceae, Restiaceae &c by the Agamemnon. In a few weeks I hope to be able to send off all Cyperaceae, whereas the Gramineae & Filices can be despatched when ever you like as they are ready.

Trusting your health is firm, and that also otherwise the serenity of the evening of your glorious life remains unclouded I am your affectionate friend

[Ferd von Mueller]⁴

It is the intention to grant a few hundred £ more working expenses for the Department. I can then at least rent an office building, get a Messenger & perhaps a field collector, but even with such additional aid I cannot restore a proper Department.

I had the agreable surprise of meeting recently the young Baron [A] von Huegel, the second son of the nobleman, whose collections you helped working out at Vienne in 1837. He is an enthusiastic young Ornithologist and most worthy a descendent of a noble father. I introduced him to the Governor &c.

Did you read my recent Reports to Parliament?⁵ I had kind letters of sympathy from Darwin, Sir H Barkly [&c]⁶

⁷Will you kindly propose for election at the Linnean society as a worthy candidate for Fellowship Edward P. Ramsay Esq, C.M.Z.S.⁸ Curator of the Museum, Sydney.

Cyperaceae

Cyperoideae

Cyperus

Filices

Gramineae

Junceae

Liliaceae

Pteris tremula