7/7/90.
A few words, dear Prof Watson, as the monthly mail for America will be despatched to morrow. I like to follow up some remarks, formerly offered,1 about the advisability to distribute the Monochlamydeae among the other orders, Gymnosperms only remaining apart. Since 25 years I have done so here, and we cannot have a complete natural system, unless this is done. You will not deem me intrusive, when I say, that I speak from independent experiments of my own during 50 years! As a mere instance in support I may mention, that Proteaceae and so also Loranthus are undoubtedly petaliferous. In Australia exists a Loranthus, my L. odontocalyx,2 which has a very conspicuous denticulation of the calyx, indeed the latter is five lobed, the lobes of course continuous with the tube; moreover, the petals of all these plants are jointed with the calyx, altho' the latter may be reduced to almost nothing as in some Rhododendrons, Asterolasia, Diplolaena &c. I like you and Prof. Coulter to consult about this subject, not because it is my view, but because we all must strive from different material to complete a truly rational system from nearest affinities. You both have the Second "Census"3 and "Key".4
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.5
I mentioned this long ago in print though some late observers, while adopting my view, ignore my observations, well known to them.6
Kindly read the preface of the first Census.7
I like to have a joint answer from both of you.8
Consider Dodonaea & Aesculus together.9
Aesculus
Asterolasia
Diplolaena
Dodonaea
Loranthus odontocalyx
Monochlamydeae
Proteaceae
Rhododendron
See M to S. Watson, 6 May 1890.
Published by Bentham (1863-78), vol. 3, p. 391, using the specimen from M and preserving his herbarium name (see labels on K848222 and MEL2288074).
B89.12.03.
B86.04.05 (pt. 2) and B88.11.02 (pt. 1).
The valediction is in the left margin of p. 4.
I mentioned … to them is a note in the centre margin of the sheet between pages 2 and 3, keyed with an asterisk to … that Proteaceae.
For an earlier comment on floral structure of Proteaceae and Loranthaceae see, for example, B77.08.01, p. 52.
The sentence is in the centre margin of the front of the sheet, between pages 1 and 4.
The sentence is in the left margin of p. 2.
The sentence is on the right margin of p. 3.
Please cite as “FVM-90-07-07,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on