30/7/90
Herewith, dear Professor, I return to you the unique specimen of the last sending. It seems to be a form of B. diacantha,1 of which the genuine Sclerolaena uniflora is a short-thorned variety.
The other plant, now Bassia Tatei, has opposite, broader leaves and an unilaterally bulging fruit. It is now drawn and can still be included in that decade of the Salsolaceae, which comprises Bassia.2
If some weeks hence, when I hope to be freer for botanic work, you can send me kindly a few more specimens of your Caladenia toxochila, C. tentaculata, and of Fitzgerald's C. reticulata & C. leptochila3
(should you have specimens to spare), I would like to study them in connection with my large material also from W.A. here.
When you get later leisure, kindly say, which of Mr Tietken's species should be recorded as additional for the W.A. territory in the Census. You are clearer on this subject than I am.4
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller
Bassia diacantha
Bassia Tatei
Caladenia leptochila
Caladenia reticulata
Caladenia tentaculata
Caladenia toxochila
Salsolaceae
Sclerolaena uniflora
Bassia dicantha?
See M to R. Tate, 18 July 1890 (in this edition as 90-07-18b), and M to R. Tate, 24 July 1890. The figure of Bassia tatei appeared in B91.13.24, Decade 8, plate LXXI.
Described in Tate (1889b) and in R. Fitzgerald (1882).
See also M to R. Tate, 1 July 1890 (in this edition as 90-07-01a).
Please cite as “FVM-90-07-30a,” 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