To William Carruthers   20 June 1886

20/6/86

Since I last wrote to you, dear Prof. Carruthers, a set of Mr Forbes’s plants has reached me, by far not so large as the one, which this distinguished traveller despatched to you; but it contains many new plants, some of great interest. In sorting them, I found two vaccineaceous plants, which I at once examined, as I was eager to find out, whether they threw any additional light on my genus Dimorphanthera, described from the Rev. James Chalmers collections in february last.¹ I had taken an interest in Vacciniaceae before, as I discovered Wittsteinea² myself in the Australian Alps 26 years ago and then defined it. — It seemed to me best, that I should note the results of my examination of Mr Forbes two additional plants, his collection containing Dimorphanthera Moorhousiana³ also. Accordingly I now beg to send you the descriptions of these two plants, one a Dimorphanthera (or sect. of Agapetes), to which Mr Forbes name might be given.⁴ The other forms a highly remarkable new genus, connected with Oxycoccus in some respects, but with Pyrola in some other regards. I propose for it the name Catanthera;⁵ and as Mr Ridley is interested in Ericacea and its allies, I would suggest, that he should single out these Vaccineae for early description, as he could add to the notes his own observations. The genus and the new species, in justice to him as well as to me, might be published under our joint authority.⁶ Your Colleague, Mr Britten, would doubtless be glad to make these highly interesting plants known at once in his Journal.⁷ You all will see the necessity of this being early done, as Dr Hollrung⁸ may find the same plants on the Finisterre Range, and may send them early to the Continent for publication. It is rather perplexing, that on Papuan plants is actually worked now at four places; Beccari elaborates some at Florence; I here, and Eichler and others in Berlin and other places of Germany, while you and your coadjutors have them before you in London; — and yet only you and I have come to some understanding as regards our respective share of work.⁹ — Now, it is not jealousy, that prompts me to point to this difficulty; but it will be a sad loss of time to any one of us, should we find (as is unavoidable), that identical plants had engaged simultaneously attention at different places.

There is so much material for all of us, that clashing of our researches should be avoided. I am the Senior and can at best only work very few years longer; so I more than others have to grudge the sacrifice of time in doing what others, unknown to me, may also do elsewhere. In the set, which Mr Forbes sent me, (to be divided between Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne), are very few Monocotyledoneae and ferns; on these, by our agreement, I shall not work. Lest Mr Forbes plants should not have yet reached you, when this letter comes to hand, I enclose fragments of the three Vaccineae, so that you and Mr Ridley can compare this original material with my descriptive notes.

The enclosed [short]¹⁰ list of names I made while hurriedly sorting the plants.¹¹ I will sent you the continuations, as my elaborations here proceed.

Always regardfully your

Ferd. von Mueller

I sent you a printed slip of Agapetes (Dimorphanthera) Moorhousii¹² some months ago

Agapetes Moorhousii

Catanthera

Dimorphanthera

Dimorphanthera Moorhousiana

Ericacea

Monocotyledoneae

Oxycoccus

Pyrola

Vaccineae

Vacciniaceae

Wittsteinea