To Ralph Tate   14 February 1884

14/2/84

About a week ago, dear Prof. Tate, I sent the msc. of the elaboration of Mr Winnecke's plants to that Gentleman, as he was anxious that it should accompany his Report. At the same time I wrote, that if he saw finally any difficulty of dealing with the matter, he should offer you the msc. for the R.S. Of course, young travellers, who have still to win their spurs, wish to make as much show with their expeditions as they can. So you cannot blame us, as regards the ideas we had on the subject. Only two new plants were among the lot, the Isotropis and Triumfetta, but he had rather remarkable varieties of some species.

The geography of plants gains nothing in particular by his itineration, for he gave no record of localities; had he done so, his collections would have served QL. & N.A.¹ as well. I may add, that I paid about £5 for the specimens. Should he go out again, as I hope, he is sure to do better. As a first attempt he did very fairly for Botany.

I will send you a specimen of Atripl² limbatum

A poor Assistant of mine died at Port Adelaide last week.³ He prostrated a naturally most vigorous frame prematurely by intemperance of late years. His wife was with him.

Regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller.

Glad of your new prospects in K. Isl.⁴ My cough is not so severe now, still not subdued.

Perhaps Mr Winnecke would give you the msc. on his Expedition-plants for your R.S., unless his report was likely soon to appear.⁵

Like in so many other instances Baileys naming of plants is faulty as regards A. semibaccatum, as the very name proves.⁶

Isotropis

Triumfetta

Atriplex limbatum

Atriplex semibaccatum