The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: May day hills, ¶ 22. Febr. 1853. ¶ Sir, ¶ ¶ I have the honor to inform you for communication to his Excellency the Governor, that I arrived here with Mr Dallachi's party on the 20th inst., after a j...

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A53/2018, unit 408, VPRS 3991 inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 53.02.22

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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Lonsdale, 1853-02-22. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/53-02-22>, accessed September 11, 2025

May day hills,

Later Beechworth, Vic.

22. Febr. 1853.

Sir,

I have the honor to inform you for communication to his Excellency the Governor, that I arrived here with Mr Dallachi's party on the 20th inst., after a journey somewhat protracted by the necessity of resting our horses for several days on the Broken river, which time was employed in examining the plants of the surrounding Granit-ranges.

By deviations from the road, where-ever the country appeared favourable for our pursuits, I succeeded in adding about 80 species of plants to my flora of this colony, advancing the whole number to about 830. The new additions belong to the following genera: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , (an arborescent sp.), , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Calycothrix?

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and a new genus of .

Undoubtedly a large number of them is entirely unknown yet, many are ornamental, of which Mr Dallachi partly procured the seeds for the bot. garden and as principly remarkable may be considered a species of of not less powerful acridity than in the celebrated inflata of North-America and a very balsamic , most likely of medical effect.

After a deliberation with Mr Commissioner Smyth and Mr Subcommissioner Clow

James Clow.

I determined to direct at first my course with Mr Dallichi's par[ty]

editorial addition — MS damaged. All square brackets in the rest of the letter have this meaning.

to the Buffaloe ranges,

Mt Buffalo, Vic.

with a view of obtaining, if possible, living alpine plan[ts] for the bot. Garden, and after these hav[e] been dispatched with our cart to proceed to some of the remoter ranges as far as the advanced season permittes and endeavour to return round Gipp's land to Melbourne.

With regard to the general character of the vegetation I might add, that I observed a decided tendency to the prevalence of the Leguminous order, which very unlikely to its distribution through South Australia approximates its phytogeographical position very much to that in which it presents itself in West-Australia, whilst the special character of the whole bears a greater similarity to that of N.S. Wales, than V. Diemens Land.

I have the honor, Sir,

to be your most obedient and humble servant.

Ferd. Mueller.

The honorable the Colonial Secretary.

Lieut. Governor La Trobe commented on M's report, 1 March 1853: 'read with interest thank him & give him all encourgt'.