The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Avon, 10. March 1854. ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I have the honor to inform you for communication to his Excellency the Governor, that I proceeded on my botanical expedition since my last report (dated Albury 15 Jan....

Document information

Physical location:

E54/3047, unit 203, VPRS 1189 inward registered correspondence, VA 856 Colonial Secretary's Office, Public Record Office, Victoria. 54.03.10

Plant names

Acacia
Search for Acacia in
Adiantum
Search for Adiantum in
Allantodea
Search for Allantodea in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Ampelideae
Search for Ampelideae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Andropogon
Search for Andropogon in
Anectangium
Search for Anectangium in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Angophora
Search for Angophora in
Aotus
Search for Aotus in
Arthropodium
Search for Arthropodium in
Asclepiadeae
Search for Asclepiadeae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Baekea utilis
Search for Baekea utilis in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Banksia
Search for Banksia in
Bidens
Search for Bidens in
Bombaceae
Search for Bombaceae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Brachychiton populneum
Search for Brachychiton populneum in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Brachycome
Search for Brachycome in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Bryum
Search for Bryum in
Carex
Search for Carex in
Centaurea
Search for Centaurea in
Choretrum
Search for Choretrum in
Cissus
Search for Cissus in
Clematis
Search for Clematis in
Compositae
Search for Compositae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Corypha Australis
Search for Corypha Australis in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Cyathodes
Search for Cyathodes in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Danthonia
Search for Danthonia in
Decaspora
Search for Decaspora in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Dianella
Search for Dianella in
Didiscus
Search for Didiscus in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Diosmeae
Search for Diosmeae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Drapernaldia
Search for Drapernaldia in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Elaeocarpeae
Search for Elaeocarpeae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Elaeocarpus
Search for Elaeocarpus in
Emphysopus
Search for Emphysopus in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Epacrideae
Search for Epacrideae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Epacris
Search for Epacris in
Erechtites
Search for Erechtites in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Ericinae
Search for Ericinae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Erigeron
Search for Erigeron in
Eriostemon
Search for Eriostemon in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Eucalyptus
Search for Eucalyptus in
Euphrasia
Search for Euphrasia in
Eurybia
Search for Eurybia in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Eustrephus
Search for Eustrephus in
Exocarpus
Search for Exocarpus in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Festuca
Search for Festuca in
Gaultheria
Search for Gaultheria in
Gentiana
Search for Gentiana in
Geranium
Search for Geranium in
Glyceria
Search for Glyceria in
Gnaphalium
Search for Gnaphalium in
Grevillea
Search for Grevillea in
Grewia
Search for Grewia in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Hakea
Search for Hakea in
Hemiphues
Search for Hemiphues in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Hierochloa
Search for Hierochloa in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Hovea
Search for Hovea in
Humea
Search for Humea in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Hypnum
Search for Hypnum in
Juncus
Search for Juncus in
Jungermannia
Search for Jungermannia in
Kennedya
Search for Kennedya in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Lagenophora
Search for Lagenophora in
Lecidea
Search for Lecidea in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Leguminosae
Search for Leguminosae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Leptomeria
Search for Leptomeria in
Leptospermum
Search for Leptospermum in
Liliaceae
Search for Liliaceae in
Lomaria
Search for Lomaria in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Marsdenia
Search for Marsdenia in
Melaleuca
Search for Melaleuca in
Mniarum
Search for Mniarum in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Muehlenbeckia
Search for Muehlenbeckia in
Neckera
Search for Neckera in
Nephrodium
Search for Nephrodium in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Olacinae
Search for Olacinae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Olax
Search for Olax in
Orthopogon
Search for Orthopogon in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Ozothamnus
Search for Ozothamnus in
Palmae
Search for Palmae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Pentachondra
Search for Pentachondra in
Persoonia
Search for Persoonia in
Phebalium
Search for Phebalium in
Philotheca
Search for Philotheca in
Pimelea
Search for Pimelea in
Pittosporum
Search for Pittosporum in
Plagianthus
Search for Plagianthus in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Plectranthus
Search for Plectranthus in
Pleurandra
Search for Pleurandra in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Poa
Search for Poa in
Polypodium
Search for Polypodium in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Polytrichum
Search for Polytrichum in
Portulaca
Search for Portulaca in
Potamogeton
Search for Potamogeton in
Prostanthera
Search for Prostanthera in
Pultenaea
Search for Pultenaea in
Ramalina
Search for Ramalina in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Ranunculus
Search for Ranunculus in
Restio
Search for Restio in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Richea
Search for Richea in
Rubus
Search for Rubus in
Sagina
Search for Sagina in
Salvia
Search for Salvia in
Sambucus
Search for Sambucus in
Samolus
Search for Samolus in
Sarsaparilla
Search for Sarsaparilla in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Scaevola
Search for Scaevola in
Scirpus
Search for Scirpus in
Sclerantheae
Search for Sclerantheae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Scleranthus
Search for Scleranthus in
Senecio
Search for Senecio in
Sicyos
Search for Sicyos in
Smilacinae
Search for Smilacinae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Smilax latifolia
Search for Smilax latifolia in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Sparganium
Search for Sparganium in
Spiranthes
Search for Spiranthes in
Splachnum
Search for Splachnum in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Sterculia heterophylla
Search for Sterculia heterophylla in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Sterculiaceae
Search for Sterculiaceae in
Stypandra
Search for Stypandra in
Symphyomera
Search for Symphyomera in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Terebinthaceae
Search for Terebinthaceae in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Trachymene
Search for Trachymene in
Trymalium
Search for Trymalium in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Tylophora
Search for Tylophora in
Uredo
Search for Uredo in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Villarsia
Search for Villarsia in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index
Vulpia
Search for Vulpia in
Xanthosia
Search for Xanthosia in
Xerotes
Search for Xerotes in
- This website
- Australian Plant Name Index

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John Foster, 1854-03-10. 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/54-03-10>, accessed September 11, 2025

For a copy of this letter see Item 530, box 72/5, La Trobe papers, La Trobe Australian Manuscripts Collection, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne.

Avon, 10. March 1854.

Sir

I have the honor to inform you for communication to his Excellency the Governor, that I proceeded on my botanical expedition since my last report (dated Albury 15 Jan.)

See M to J. Foster, 15 January 1854.

from the Murray river along the Mitta Mitta to the Gibbo ranges, travelling through them and the adjoining mountains in many directions. After crossing the Gibbo-ranges, near which (on the Gibbo creek) argenteous sulphid of lead has been found, I went to Omeo with the intention to adscend the highest rocky summits at the Bogong mountains, probably of not less elevation as Mount Kioskiusko,

Kosciuszko.

if not higher. I was however after a vain attempt obliged to abandon the task, compelled to retreat from the extensive bushfires, then raging in those but scantily watered mountains.

In order to accomplish now the examination of the alpine flora in an other locality, I started for the Cobras

Cobberas.

mountains, within this province the most prominent points in the great dividing range, near the sources of several main tributaries as well of the Murray as Snowy river. Not only the mountains there, but also the surrounding plains are of an alpine nature, the latter probably more than 5000' and the tops of Mount Cobras more than 6000' above the level of the sea. I was however not enabled to solve the interesting question with regard to the altitude satisfactorely, since I was deprived of my instruments for that purpose, without having an opportunity to procure others again.

Whatever of the alpine plants of these regions is already known, belongs either to the Tasmanian Flora, or does not differ from what I discovered last year on Mount Buller. The small share of new plants mixed with them is exceedingly interesting.

From the Cobras mountains I travelled over a large tract of subalpine country as far as the boundaries of New South Wales up the Snowy river, and I might say under many difficulties, which chiefly originated in the almost constant fog hanging over the high mountains.

Out of several curious plants, which I discovered on the upper parts of the Snowy river, I have to mention ( Br.), growing amongst the bare Granit rocks, washed by the tremendous floods of the smelting snow. This elegant tree of the tropics occurrs along the Snowy river at least in a distance of hundred miles and besides also on several of the tributaries, and is as far as it represents a distinct natural order ( ) and as it reaches here its most southern limits a valuable addition to the Victoria Flora. The seeds of this plant were used for food in Dr. Leichhardts expedition to Port Essington.

NT.

— , the teabush of Mount Aberdeen

Ascended by M during his journey of exploration a year earlier.

has been repeatedly observed in the peaty vallies of the Snowy mountains.

Unable to follow the course of the Snowy river to the vicinity of the sea, where I wished to examine the cabbage trees, I passed once more the great dividing chain of mountains in a retrograd but more southerly direction.

My next excursion was along the Tambo to Gipps land principly with the intention to extend my researches over the remotests South-eastern parts of the Colony, bearing so much resemblance in their vegetation to the Illawarra district. Here occurrs between the Broadribb-

Brodribb River, Vic.

and Snowy-river sparingly and on a rather circumscribed locality on the Cabbage tree river the stately , the only Palmtree of this province. It attains here the stupendous hight of 60-80' and may be considered as one of the most useful productions of this country, furnishing in its leaf stalks the palmcabbage, raw as well as boiled a wholesome and delicious food, whilst the leaves are eagerly collected as material for the manufacture of hats. I am informed, that the Corypha is also to be found in the swampy vallies beyond Mount Baw Baw and rarely near the shores opposite Phillips island.

Many of the plants, which the late Allan Cunningham collected in Illawarra

NSW.

and made that locality to his favourite place, I was also fortunate enough to observe here towards the mouth of the Snowy river and along the Broadribb and Cabbagetree river, where almost suddenly the vegetation assumes a tropical character with all its shady groves of dark- and broadleaved trees of horizontal foliage, with all those impenetrable and intricate masses of climbers overrunning the highest trees, and with so many peculiar forms of the vegetable kingdom never transgressing the tropical Zone unless under the favourable influence of the humid mild atmosphere of the coast. Of this remarkable change bears the occurrence of genera, belonging to many families, which reach here their most southern latitude, sufficient testimony; viz. , , , , , , , , , — from the alps adds to these the natural order of , and from the Murray those of and and besides these at least two other families were observed, the species however in too imperfect a state as to permit their determination. Perhaps many other connections with the Flora of the Moreton bay district

Qld.

will be once pointed out, as I could in this cursory visit not exhaust the botanical richdom of the place; for the impossibility of recrossing the Snowy river safely without canoes in rainy weather and the want of protection against the hostilities of the aborigines since the Squatting-stations here are deserted, induced me to an earlier return, as I originally desired. As useful plants from this locality I may yet mention a kind of Eldertree, a very distinct species of Raspberry and , similar and therefore perhaps medicinally allied to the true American . Seeds of these and many others have been gathered.

I beg to add an enumeration of the genera, which comprise the 150 additional species, procured since my last report; it exhibits 39 genera not previously noticed in our territory: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Sterculia, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ? , , , , , , , , , , , Smilax, , , , , , Corypha, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

and were almost everywhere found prevalent; an increase of , Grasses and was also discernible.

It is my intention now to advance once more into the high mountainous country for exploring the southern slope of the alps, as far as season and circumstances may permit, so that my next employment will be at Mount Wellington, probably yielding much of interest on account of its basaltic nature.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

your most obedient and humble servant

Ferd. Mueller

The honorable the Colonial Secretary.

The letter was sent to Lieut. Governor La Trobe for his perusal and it was returned by him to the Colonial Secretary's Office, 1 April 1854.