From Henry Watts to Ferdinand von Mueller   15 Oct 1883

No 20. Wellington Street

Collingwood¹ Oct 15 1883

Baron von Mueller

Dear sir/

I duly received your letter containing a list of names of the marine algae, you kindly sent to Sonder.² I really regret that you lost your specimens; for the reason, that nearly all the specimens were cut into three portions, two of which you had, the other one I have still. I have devoted much time to see if I could send you other duplicates. I find that I am unable to do so, with the exception of Nos 10 & 6,³ specimens of which are enclosed. I have not collected any marine algae now for some time, and as the summer is now coming on, I may take a day or two to collect some species of which I am very short. The missing number unnamed, perhaps can be named when you have Sonders collection ready for public inspection. It is hardly worth while to send one specimen to Agardh.

I should have been very much pleased if I could have received the names of the later collections of Fresh-water Algae. It is not satisfactory that this work should be left in the present state, and I often regret that your first proposition to me was not carried out, viz: — to work out the species here under your own supervision, and only the doubtful species sent to Europe.⁴ I have identified now over 30 species of Desmidae, and it is only that I cannot spare the time, or else I would proceed with the work.

I venture to trouble you with another remark, new to me, probably familiar to yourself, viz. the presence of Sphaeraphides in our Eucalypti. Very recently I was cutting a Section of fruit of Eucalyptus callophyllis,⁵ and near the outer edge of the fruit was some beautiful crystals, which polarized splendidly. This section also presented spiral vessels. I have not your Eucalyptographia by me, or I would see if these "Sphaeraphides" are mentioned.⁶

Excuse my occupying your valuable time,

I remain

Yours obediently

Henry Watts

Eucalyptus callophyllis