Torrumbarrey,
5th January 1854
Being delayed here (on the Murray River) for a day, in order to recover some articles
stolen from me while travelling lately to the junction of the Darling,
and having apparently exhausted the Murray vegetation, as far as the season will
permit me to add to my collection, I find an hour’s agreeable employment in communicating
to you the results of my botanical researches since my last letter has been despatched
(“Victoria Range,” end of November).
I have since that time examined the neighbourhood of Mount Zero
(already favourably known by Sir Thomas Mitchell’s researches), and I had here the
gratification of adding a considerable number of undescribed or rare plants to my
last botanical stores, amongst them a most handsome new genus of
(
) with a steel-blue scarious calyx, hexandrous and apetalous, otherwise allied to
or rather
. From Mount Zero I proceeded to the Murray River, along the Avoca, traversing the
Murray Scrub about Lake Lalbert, and towards the Darling, and in this journey there
have been nearly three hundred species added to the Victoria Flora (including those
previously discovered on the Grampians); so that my notes and collections comprise
now about 1500 species from this colony.
The Mallee scrub of this Colony proved not to be so rich in new plants as I anticipated.
I was, however, surprised to observe, that not only a large share of the South-Australian
Murray plants extend so far easterly, but also that so many rarities, which I formerly
only noticed on Lake Torrens
(many degrees further north), range as species to be included in the Flora of this
Colony. Of most of the species I secured a sufficient number of specimens (notwithstanding
having to carry them generally on my saddle-horse) as to supply you, as also some
of your eminent botanical friends; and I hope Kew Garden will also receive some modest
but nevertheless acceptable additions from the many kinds of seeds which I gathered. My main harvest of new, and I hope also ornamental plants, will be likely
in the Alps to which I am now proceeding; and for the investigation of some prominent
points, I shall devote the favourable months of February and March, and if the weather
becomes not too inclement, also April next.
I have not heard from Melbourne since I left that capital, but I hope to receive letters
in Albury, by which I will learn if my large box with specimens and some seeds, as
well as the set of manuscript on the Victorian Flora, has been sent away by His Excellency,
or will remain under his care till he returns home. By an occasional glance on a home
paper, I perceived, to my delight, that Professor William Harvey visits our shores
for the purpose of enlarging and advancing his phycological works; and you will readily
imagine that I shall hail his arrival in Melbourne, and his stay under my roof, with
the greatest pleasure, being myself here almost in a botanical exile, and having to
learn so very much from a man of Dr. Harvey’s standing. The letters in which I desired
Dr. Joseph Hooker to visit Dr. Sonder in Hamburg, for the purpose of selecting from
my herbarium there a specimen of all those plants he may consider useful, many adding
without doubt to his desirable ‘Flora Tasmanica,’
you will have received.
Dr. Harvey will see in my herbarium at least three hundred New Holland and Tasmanian
Algae.
Ferd. Müller.
