From Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Decaisne   31 Mar 1880

31/3/80.

You have been always so kind and generous to me, honored and venerable Sir, that I venture to ask you again for some information. In some industrial remarks on various Acacias of Australia I wish to be sure, that A. saligna is really the Mimosa saligna of Labillardière. Would it be possible for your Assistant to compare the original specimen with Bentham's description? or to send me a leaf, a flowerhead and a fruit? Was it from West Austr.? I am further very anxious to determine precisely for my Eucalyptography, what E. ovata of Labillardière may be; nor am I at all sure, that the E. incrassata of that author is really the same as that of Bentham. Perhaps an inspection of the original specimens will settle this point, or perhaps the specimens admit of a fragment to be sent to me.

Eucalyptus ambigua of Dehnhardt is [=] E. amygdalina, but whether that of D.C. is also amygdalina remains uncertain; if so, it must have come from Van Diemens Land (Tasmania).

The sixth decade of the Eucalyptography is just completed, and will be sent to you in April. I hope that you received Decas I — V.1

Trusting, honored Sir, that you enjoy perfect health and happiness, I remain your regardful

Ferd. von Mueller.2

Acacia saligna

Eucalyptus ambigua

Eucalyptus amygdalina

Eucalyptus incrassata

Eucalyptus ovata

Decades 1-4 are listed under B79.13.11, while Decades 5 -7 are listed under B80.13.14. Decade 5 was reviewed in Sydney morning herald, 23 March 1880, p. 7, and Decade 6 in Chemist and druggist, Australasian supplement, July 1880, p. 21.

MS accompanied by one of M's calling cards inscribed by M: 'demande à M. Crié de fouiller l'herb. d'Urville à Caen' [requests Mr Crié to search the d'Urville herbarium at Caen].

MS annotation: 'à M Decaisne'.

Please cite as “FVM-80-03-31,” 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 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/80-03-31