To William Thiselton-Dyer   27 August 1893

Sunday, 27/8/93.¹

That the experiment of sending the Desert-Verticordia in the open air, should not have lived through the few weeks of the voyage, dear Dr Dyer, is all the more regretable, as Mr & Mrs Markes bestowed so much care on the plants.² But as one of them had been here in culture for a year and had a strong stem, it is very likely, that it will sprout yet again in Kew³ It would have been inadvisable to put such plants into a Ward’s Glass case, as they come from dry hot regions and do not endure to be shut up in close air. It is very different with the Verticordia Brownii from the moors and heaths of the moist region of K.G S.⁴ I will now try to get cuttings across to you. I have still one rooted plant here established, so I may still succeed in the attempt of adding it to the Kew treasures.

Mr Morris wrote me about your recreation trip.⁵ Let me hope, that it may have proved conducive to your health and strength. Perhaps I shall get a little "airing" next month by attending at the Austral. Assoc.⁶ in Adelaide, but I am not yet sure as regards the expense of money and time.

I was pleased to see, that Mr Baker also regards the 3 Austral Musas as endemic.⁷

Regardfully always your

Ferd. von Mueller.

I have just an other Styphelia as new, which shows again a complete transit from Astroloma to Leucopogon. I have only one short branchlet, but you shall have part of it.⁸

Astroloma

Leucopogon

Musa

Styphelia

Verticordia Brownii