To Joseph Hooker   26 August 1881

26/8/81.

Since I wrote to you, dear Sir Joseph, I have received from King George's Sound¹ dried plants, corresponding to the species of Andersonia, transmitted to you in the Wardian Case.I find however, that my order was only improperly carried out, in as much as two species only with blue corolla were sent, namely A. caerulea & A. depressa, and that instead of A. variegata, which is the third species (unless also A. micrantha) with blue corollas, my collector sent you Andersonia homalostoma, which latter has both calyx & corolla pink. However as the A. homalostoma is also new for British-culture, I hope it will not come amiss.²

I trust you will figure the two blue-flowered ones, after all the trouble & expense to which I have been put in this affair. If you consider, that out of about 300 Epacrideae hitherto known, only 3 or perhaps 4 have blue corollas, and if you bear in mind, how rare the blue is in flowers of Ericeae, then you will be glad to bring this aberration of color (of the purest blue) readily & prominently under notice through your Magazine.

Kindly return the Ward's Case filled with some rare plants to me, such as I can grow before the little cottage, where I am compelled to do my officework.

As the freight has been paid by me for this sending to Kew, perhaps you will kindly arrange for the free return-sending of the Wards Case also.

Regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller.

A. depressa, as you will see, has the calyx nearly white, not pink as in most others. The case was shipped by the P & O Steamer from K G Sound early in August. I have no bill of Loading; so kindly let the Kew Agent look out for the Case. The Chief Officer of the Steamer, who deserves some compliment from you, took particular care in giving the case a good place.

Andersonia caerulea

Andersonia depressa

Andersonia homalostoma

Andersonia micrantha

Andersonia variegata

Epacrideae

Ericeae