Ree. April 25th 

 Ans. 26 



Melbourne, Feb. 2, 1883 



Herewith, esteemed friend, I am sending you a speeimen of a Cuscuta f which I 

 possess from three places of the tropica! and subtropical areas of Australia, which 

 distinguishes itself through the 3 - 14 part c*?lyx and therefor 3 ~ k part corolla 

 and 3 - k part filaments. Then it has unusually short styles and very convex fruit- 

 compartments, whereby the capsule appears conroletely developed inside, comp« rat ively 

 broad and almost lobed. I was inclined to describe this plant as C. redueta , because 

 of its recurved flower parts? but because I learned from the beautiful treatise which 

 you sent me in 1859» that C. obtusiflora develops similar forms, I did not dare to 

 separate my plants of this variety and publish them as new. Anyway it is a noteworthy 

 addition to the flora of Australia, particularly because up to now we have not known 

 any Cuscuta from the western and central part of the Australian continent. 



It would please me very much if you would cast your knowledgeable eye on this 

 growth and kindly give me your views about it. In my Species Census of the plants of 

 Australia, of which I will shortly send you the part of the vascular part, I have held 

 fast to the name C. Australis as the oldest. That one conforms to the specific desig- 

 nation of this widely distributed variety, only a little; however we also have many 

 analogous cases, e.g. in Spiranthes Australis , which also extend themselves from 

 Tasmania and New Zealand to Japan and then into southern Europe. 



The staminal scales of Cuscuta are remindful of such with several Zygophyllu m 

 varieties. Perhaps you discuss this peculiar Cuscuta with your academicians. Should 

 any of them be concerned with some of my publications, I would be Willing to send 

 those which are still available. With deep interest I continue to follow your 

 vigorous activity in the field as also in house-studies, after your University 

 friends Agassiz, Braun and Schimper have long since departed from the earthly life. 



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 Botanical 

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