WCP3916

[1]

Hurstpierpoint

29^th Oct^r 1864

Dear Spruce,

Just to save myself from leaving your letters without reply for another week I write to say that I am still at work as fast as possible[.] [S]ince you were here I have gone through all the Hypna belonging to the groups Brachythecium [sic] and Rhynchostegium [sic] which I believe, myself, are only one and in the course of my explorations I find a curiously overlooked fact — the apex of the nerve in Rhynchostegium is generally produced into a little thorn[?]-like projection so evident in some of our British species that one only wonders it is not noticed[.] [2] [A]mong the species you have gathered referrable [sic] to the groups before mentioned there are but few new forms, your Hyp[num][?]. Larrasianum[?] a Rhynchostegium is so far as I know new and there is a pretty silky ^slender Brachythecium from various places about the Andes known to me before from fragments from various parts of S. America but in a complete state only from your abundant specimens, this too is not yet described. —

Today I have just to go over and mark names to the Hookerias [sic] having extracted all I can from the descriptions of the species unknown to me by specimens, the descriptions of these [3] and of many other mosses having their leaves arranged in a seriate manner are worthless so far as relates to the leaves, their form being so diverse on the same stem, if taken from the different series, that it is just a waste of time to endeavour to make anything satisfactory out of the figures ascribed to them, you will see what I mean by the subjoined outline [a sketch of leaf placement appears here]¹

and there is also on the ventral side of the stem a medial leaf usually somewhat diverse in form from the corresponding one on the dorsal [4] side —

Flora² is making great use of the Ollendorf³ [sic] you so kindly sent her, all the rest of us are well except my wife⁴ who has had a bad cold from which she is now recovering. We are wondering how you are and where you are proposing to hybernate, also we are occasionally haunted by our curiosity as to M^r Wallace's matrimonial prospects⁵ which we hope are brighter —

Ever truly yours | William Mitten [signature]