To Alphonse de Candolle   18 November 1887

18/11/87.

It is my pleasing duty, honored and venerable Sir, to acknowledge the receipt of the volume of your great series of monographies, containing the Ampelideae;¹ and I beg to thank you for your new act of kindness thus evinced in sending an impression. My only regret is, that I had not already the privilege of adding the Myoporinae, but I was forced here by ministerial order to bring out early the dichotomous part of the "Key to the system of Victorian plants",² which very difficult task will — deo volente³ — be fully accomplished by the end of 1887, as a large portion of the volume is printed now. In this work I have used no Organographic expressions, which occur in human anatomy and there-with in zoology also; thus the fibro-vascular tractus in leaves is called venules throughout, as the venae portae, cavae, azygos &c are quite as large proportionately to other veins as the midrib of leaves, which I call carinular venule. Ovarium has become overlarium, placenta (from your illustrious fathers pleading already) placentarium, albumen = albumentum (a good classic word) vegetable hair, which contain no nitrogene, = hairlet, head = headlets (in accordance with all other languages except the english); furthermore from all such terms as rostrum, unguis, faux, labia &c I have freed my new work.⁴ Here, where I had to commence for a new country de novo, these changes could be better made as in Europe, where they became sanctioned by tradition and time. Anyhow these alterations would have been made in the progress of science, as doubtless different organs in the living world should not for ever pass under the same name. I am entirely in accord with M. Planchon's view of the affinity of Viniferae, and at page 13 of the "Key", printed some months ago, placed them also near Rhamnaceae & Araliaceae, well aware, that Eichler had already transferred the genus Leea to Meliaceae. Some other changes I have made from the arrangement, adopted in the Census, — exempli causa: the Thymeleae are placed next to the Rosaceae, to which they have undoubtedly the greatest affinity.

I feel sure, that in 1888, — if divine will allows me to live so long —, I shall be able, to elaborate the Myoporinae, though we are very busy here with the forthcoming grand Exhibition!⁵ It will require the connected re-examination of more than 1000 specimens of Myoporinous plants, to give a full account of the order now, and likely I shall within a few months have more additions to the material from Central and from West Australia. Will M. Casimir D.C. kindly review the volume on utilitarian plants by Naudin & myself?⁶ The "Key" brings for the first time, except Mr Spicer's little book (sans ordre) the Lamarkian method into English use, which will interest particularly the son and grandson of the collaborator of Lamark⁷

Always regardfully

your

Ferd. von Mueller

A copy of the Key will be sent to you, so soon as it appears

Ampelideae

Araliaceae

Leea

Meliaceae

Myoporinae

Rhamnaceae

Rosaceae

Thymeleae

Viniferae