From Ralph Tate   12 November 1895

November 12, 1895

My Dear Baron,

I am leaving this afternoon for my farm, to stay there till the end of the week, so that further revision of the Elder plants will be deferred till my return. The interval will be devoted to the conclusion of the Geological Report of the Horn Expedition.

I have not yet touched the Myrtaceae, Compositae and Dampierae of the Elder Collection; but it is only in respect of the last that there remains much to be done.

Examination-work¹ which commences on the 18th will break into any continuous leisure, which is so needful to accomplish much in the way of critical study, for about three weeks from that date

Yrs sincerely

Ralph Tate

Elder Expedition Plants.²

Daviesia sp. 1. near Warangering.³ By its calyx-teeth comes near D. pachylina

Bossiaea Walkeri? You have the only specimen. Compare the foliage with that of Brachysema aphyllum; if my memory does not deceive me, I think this will prove the true location.

Phyllota sp. from Karoling,⁴ is indeterminate perhaps a Gompholobium ⁵

Swainsonia ⁶ microphylla. Is I think correct

Swainsonia stipularis

"

"

"

Swainsonia canescens? I refer to S. phacoides.⁷

Kennedya prostrata.⁸ Has no flowers, but the pod is cylindrical; and therefore rightly named.

Cassia Sophera. Example unique in University Herbarium but is rightly named.

Acacia n. sp from between Red Kangaroo Hill and Yilgarn⁹ was reserved for future study by you

Cryptandra pungens (v. nutans)? Victoria Desert.

Cryptandra (Spyridium) off complicata? Victorian Desert. I cannot refer to description of S. rotundifolia my material is in very indifferent condition¹⁰

Didiscus glaucifolius (with slight variation from typical examples) Is certainly right. New for W.A.

Didiscus coeruleus unique example from near Esperance Bay.¹¹ This determination does not admit of doubt¹²

Hydrocotyle aff muriculata = H. trachycarpa, without granules on the fruitlets.

Actinotus leucocephalus. Dwarfed state, tallest specimens attaining to four inches.

Haloragis odontocarpa. Specimen with out fruit, but the foliage and habit comparable with an authentic example from Darling River¹³

Haloragis sp., near Barrow Ramge is indeterminable, probably H. Gossei

Haloragis confertifolia the nearest approach which I can offer

Haloragis aculeolata. Your specimen is unique¹⁴

Exocarpos? sp. Victoria Desert. The crowded leaves suggest E. odorata

Canthium sp. Victoria Desert. The flowers are like those of C. lucidum, but the shape of leaves is very different and so also, apparently, the venation

Opercularia spermacocea, from Yerdanie,¹⁵ is I think rightly named; but with it from Victoria Desert is

O. aff echinocephala differing there from by sessile leaves and the flowers stalked above the last leaves.

Scaevola parvifolia Is I consider correct

Scaevola anchusiaefolia?¹⁶ Is closely allied to S. depauperata, from which it differs by larger flowers, acute sepal-points, and hairy style.

Scaevola fasiculata ¹⁷ Is I think correct.

Goodenia lamprosperma? May be a state of G. heteromera.

Goodenia cycloptera from Warrina¹⁸ is rightly named; but the Barrow Range¹⁹ plant is doubtful, as the flowers are not spurred.

Goodenia Mitchelli ²⁰ from Arcoeillinna Well²¹ seems a typical form of G. heterochila

Goodenia aff Mueckiana ²² from Barrow Range & Camp 50 seems to be a varietal form of G. heteroclita.

Goodenia aff sepalosa from Macdonnell Range²³ with viscid leaves, which you altered to G. heterochila, is a distinct species. The fruits are oblong-cylindric, the dissepiment fully half the length of fruit, seeds lenticular, small, with a narrow callous border.²⁴

Goodenia tenella	}	correct names wanted
Goodenia aff tenella

Goodenia heteromera. Is I think correct.

Goodenia hirsuta. Arkaringa Valley²⁵ & Barrow Range. Though it recalls G. hederacea, yet I think this new species might be transferred to Catosperma. Ripe fruits not seen; ovary 2-celled; 10 ovules in each cell, mostly ascending, some apparently pendulous, attached throughout the whole length of the complete septum; stigma-cover shortly 2-cleft

Elder Expedition Plants.

Solanum	simile. Is right, having globose fruits
—	ellipticum. I consider correct
	var. pannifolium. Victoria Desert
—	petrophilum. I consider correct
Anthocercis microphylla		"	"

Dicrastylis spp. = Breweria rosea

Stemodia viscosa is correctly named.

Prostanthera	Wilkieana, a variety with small flowers and very silky pubescence
—	Baxteri right for S.A. and Victoria; but the specimens from Gnarlbine & Knutsford26 are perhaps
—	Campbelli 27

Teucrium sessiliflorum. Right, has narrower leaf-segments than ordinarily.

—	grandiflorum.28 agrees with type.

Microcorys sp. the unique example is in your possession

Halgania	tomentosa n. sp. not attachable to any described species
—	integerrima = cyanea, var
—	littoralis = cyanea var.
—	cyanea, var. with narrow entire leaves, cymes reduced to few flowers.
—	corymbosa v. sericiflora. Seemingly one or the other.

Heliotropium paniculatum = H. tenuifolium, paniculate form of (no flowers in my specimen.

Chloanthes Drummondi ²⁹ = loxocarpa from Victoria Desert. Cannot arrive at any satisfactory rest. Cor. 5-lobed, calyx deeply 5-cleft, stamens 4.

Chloanthes? n. sp. near Southern Cross.³⁰ Cor. unequally 5-lobed, calyx deeply divided; stamens 4, 2 long & 2 short; anthers devaricate ovary lobeless; fruit with a hollow base separating into two 1-seeded fruitlets, dissepiment incomplete above.

Newcastlia n. sp. off Dixoni Style shortly bilobed

Thelymitra fuscolutea	}	I see no reason to alter these names
Diuris emarginata
Amgozanthus rufa 31

Thysanotus arbuscula the species name preferable to dichotomus

Bartlingia grandiflora Agrees with description

Arthropodium Preissii You have the unique example

Xerotes fimbriatus ³² Seemingly right; flowers bisexual in all examined

Xanthorrhoea gracilis	Appears	correct.
Juncus communis	"	"

Restiaceae. The four species of this Order beat me, firstly I have

little knowledge of our Australian species, and secondly three species are representing33 by male flowers only. I framed a synopsis of the genera based on the androccium, but it was not workable. Species no. 2. has male & female flowers in the same spikelet, and in habit would seem to be a sp. of Ecideicolea;34 but there are 2 bracteoles under each flower as in Anarthria. However there is only one ovule35 in the ovulary, as the result of three observations by slight crushing under the microscope. I enclose some separated flowers.36
Cyperus	fulvus. Is right not included in your set
—	rotundus. based on the foliage and edible corms & compared with the Finke37 plant.

Fimbristylis communis. nut not seen, but otherwise correct.

Isolepis cartilagineus.³⁸ I have no doubt about

Lepidosperma n. sp. (Section Tereticaules) from Mt Ilbillee.³⁹ This is certainly new for S.A I cannot attach it with any described species from W.A though it is seemingly near to leptostachyum

Lepidosperma leptophyllum? Karoling. Is like semiteres, but the stems are more compressed, it is probably L. gracile

Lepidosperma gracile, Fraser Range.⁴⁰ I consider correct

Lepidosperma Drummondii & L. resinosum = L. Drummondii, because of the acute glumes. The fewer sterile flowers, broader stems & loose panicle separate it from viscidum

Panicum effusum. A unique ex.⁴¹ not sent, but is rightly named

Aristida	ramosa. Unique in your set.
—	calycina appears to be right

Eriachne spp. belong to E. mucronata, E. scleranthoides and E. aristidea. Do you confirm?

Astrebla pectinata is unique in your set

Eragrostis tenella? = tricophylla ⁴²

E. falcata, eriopoda & setifolia to be re examined

E. pilosa unique ex. not sent agrees with Finke plant

Triraphis n. sp no. 1 & 2. = T. bromoides. Do you confirm?

Actinotus leucocephalus

Anarthria

Anigozanthus rufa

Anthocercis microphylla

Arestida ramosa

Aristida calycina

Arthropodium Preissii

Astrebla pectinata

Bartlingia grandiflora

Bossiaea Walkeri

Brachysema aphyllum

Breweria rosea

Canthium lucidum

Cassia Sophera

Catosperma

Chloanthes Drummondi

Chloanthes loxocarpa

Cryptandra (Spyridium) complicata

Cryptandra pungens var nutans

Cyperus fulvus

Cyperus rotundus

Daviesia pachylina

Dicrastylis

Didiscus coeruleus

Didiscus glaucifolius

Diuris emarginata

Ecideicolea

Eragrostis eriopoda

Eragrostis falcata

Eragrostis pilosa

Eragrostis setifolia

Eragrostis tenella

Eragrostis tricophylla

Eriachne aristidea

Eriachne mucronata

Eriachne scleranthoides

Exocarpos odorata

Fimbristylis communis

Gompholobium

Goodenia cycloptera

Goodenia hederacea

Goodenia heterochila

Goodenia heterochila

Goodenia heteromera

Goodenia heteromera

Goodenia hirsuta

Goodenia lamprosperma

Goodenia Mitchelli

Goodenia Mueckiana

Goodenia sepalosa

Goodenia tenella

Halgania corymbosa var. sericiflora

Halgania cyanea

Halgania integerrima

Halgania littoralis

Halgania tomentosa

Haloragis aculeolata

Haloragis confertifolia

Haloragis Gossei

Haloragis odontocarpa

Heliotropium paniculatum

Heliotropium tenuifolium

Hydrocotyle muriculata

Hydrocotyle trachycarpa

Isolepis cartilagineus

Juncus communis

Kennedya prostrata

Lepidosperma Drummondii

Lepidosperma gracile

Lepidosperma leptophyllum

Lepidosperma leptostachyum

Lepidosperma resinosum

Lepidosperma semiteres

Microcorys

Newcastlia Dixoni

Opercularia echinocephala

Opercularia spermacocea

Panicum effusum

Phyllota

Prostanthera Baxteri

Prostanthera Campbelli

Prostanthera Wilkieana

Restiaceae

Scaevola anchusiaefolia

Scaevola depauperata

Scaevola fasiculata

Scaevola parvifolia

Solanum ellipticum var. pannifolium

Solanum petrophilum

Solanum simile

Stemodia viscosa

Swainsonia canescens

Swainsonia microphylla

Swainsonia phacoides

Swainsonia stipularis

Teucrium grandiflorum

Teucrium sessiliflorum

Thelymitra fuscolutea

Thysanotus arbuscula

Thysanotus dichotomus

Xanthorrhoea gracilis

Xerotes fimbriatus