The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Genoa River, 17 Sept 1860. ¶ My dear Sir William, ¶ ¶ Perhaps I may not be able to forward this letter to you by the September mail, as I am engaged in finishing the botanical exploration of Gipps La...

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RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol. LXXV, Australian and Pacific letters 1859-65, letter no. 127. 60.09.17a

Plant names

Achras australis
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Adiantum hispidulum
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Angophora intermedia
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Anthoceris Tasmanica
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Aphanopetalum resinosum
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Asplenium Nidrus
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Baeckea B linifolia
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Caladenia alba
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Commersonia Frazeri
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Conospermum taxifolium
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Cupania xylocarpa
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Disemma
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Ficus aspera
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Glossodia minor
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Goodenia cistifolia
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Goodenia stilligera
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Grevillea
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Helichrysum elatum
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Isopogon anethifolius
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Melaleuca armillaris
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Mitrasacme polymorpha
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Olearia dentata
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Omalanthus populifolius
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Panax
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Passiflora
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Patersonia glabrata
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Patersonia sericia
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Persoonia lanceolata
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Phebalium aureum
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Podolobium trilobatum
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Rubus Hillii
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Rulingia corylifolia
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Seringea
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Sponia
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Stephania hernandifolia
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Symphyopetalum
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Telopea truncata
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Viscum incanum
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Westringia longifolia
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Zieria veronicea
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1860-09-17 [60.09.17a]. 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/60-09-17a>, accessed November 14, 2024

Genoa River, 17 Sept 1860.

My dear Sir William,

Perhaps I may not be able to forward this letter to you by the September mail, as I am engaged in finishing the botanical exploration of Gipps Land at the boundary-line of New South Wales;

See Albrecht (1996).

But I will at least prepare at once an account of my proceedings, should I be in time to avail myself of this mail.

The communication with Twofold Bay

NSW.

from Melbourne having been directly opened this season through the exodus from Victoria to the Snowy River diggings,

That is, to the Snowy Mountain goldfields.

I had a ready opportunity to enter on the botanical investigation of the south-eastern part of Gipps Land without much loss of time from Twofold Bay and I received leave of absence for performing this service for three weeks.

M arrived at the port of Eden, Twofold Bay, in the early hours of 8 September 1860, having embarked on Rangatira in Melbourne on 5 September (Twofold Bay and Maneroo telegraph, 11 September 1860, p. 2). See also M to R. Heales, 10 January 1861.

It was of some importance, that I should examine the south eastern parts of the colony previous to the compilation of the first volume of my flora,

B62.03.03.

in as much as I had never been towards that tract of country in the spring season. Hence I found , (not barbata) and all for the first time within Victorian territory, these species not occurring, as far as I know, further westward. On the forest hills with scrubby heathy underwood near the Genoa River I noticed as new for the flora of Victoria in great abundance, on Genoa Peak & , the latter occurring on bare granite rocks occasionally covered with snow not only on the peak but also in many other localities with huge rock-masses near the Genoa River and its tributaries both in Victoria and New South Wales. I shall bring with me to Melbourne a large quantity of living plants of this hardy Dendrobium, because I imagine that it will be acceptable for our outdoor-rockeries and may be welcome also in Britain and other countries, where now Orchids are taking so predominant a share of the horticulturalists attention.

You will be surprised to hear, that D. speciosum occurs within Victoria also in a latitude as far south as Melbourne (37°30') near the lower parts of the Genoa River, where it is exposed during the winter at an elevation of 2-3000' to a considerable degree of frost, which nippes the extremities of the leaves but does not prevent the pushing forth of flowerstems. The plant grows in large patches on bare granite and porphyritic rocks, and seems not to rely much on irrigation. , , Helichrysum H. elatum

M deleted text between Helichrysum and H. elatum.

A.C., , , , , ,

seemingly deleted before B linifolia.

and P. sericia , , , Commersonia Frazeri , a species seemingly of , an Eurybia allied to the E. pimeloides from the Murray-desert, , are the New South Wales plants which I traced on this occasion into Victorian territory, thereby determining their southern limits. Most interesting was to me to observe, that inhabits the open heaths near the entrance of the Genoa River, whilst I was not less delighted to notice just on our boundary line of the colony thus establishing a place for in my flora, and showing the existence of the order as far as 37°20' south.

The occurence of (the New South Wales Bloodwood) and of (one of the East Australian Apple-trees) was also formerly not known in Victoria[.]

editorial addition. Text obscured by binding.

I have however been disappointed in my expectations of finding many of the Botany Bay heath plants near Cape Howe, nor was I able to notice any of the noble meliaceous, sapindaceous, euphorbiaceous & other indo-australian trees, which with the red Cedar are found as far south as Shoalhaven, for it seems that our mean annual heat is not sufficient here in Gipps Land to favor their migration so far south, when the temperature also sinks occasionally very low and the S.W. antarctic breeze counteracts the current of warm air which renders the Eastern coast of Australia so mild far southerly. Contrary I have established the existence of many Tasmanian & Victorian species as far East as Cape Howe. These to enumerate would lead on this occasion too far. The habitats which I have added to many rarer Victorian plants are very numerous.

Melbourne 25. Oct. 1860

I missed the last mail, in not having reached my home again in time. I will therefore complete my account now of my last journey. Within Victorian territory I found at an elevation of 4000' ; at least I was unable to see any distinction, by which I could discriminate the Gippsland plants from the Tasmanian ones, but have not yet seen good flowers. I found also one of Sieber's almost box-leaved Persoonias, a delightful bush, which is subalpine only & will no doubt endure the english winter.

On my homeway I was surprised to find more far than 37° South! , , Cupania xylocarpa, , Omalanthus populifolius, Ficus aspera, , Achras australis, , Viscum incanum, Eupomatia laurina, , , , G. cistifolia, , , , , spp., a (new?) urticaceous tree and even Asplenium [Nidrus],

Asplenium nidus?

not small starved specimens but with fronds more than 6' long! The crowning success of this journey however, by which my Victorian flora has become so much enriched consists in the discovery of a beautiful new Dio[rma]ceous plant, probably a second species of the West Austr genus Turcz (

Symphyopetalon?

Harvey) and in the discovery of a with the habit of a cocos palm! 80' high, 60 feet stems without a branch quite straight, crowned by a comparatively small top of leaves, which resemble that of Ailanthus. This noble plant, which will grace I hope ere long our gardens & your conservatories I named in Compliment of Patrick Murray Esq, the Chief Magistrate of the District, who very kindly interested himself in my journey & gave me great facilities in carrying it out successfully.

M named murrayi in B60.11.03, p. 106.

I enclose seeds.

Prof Harvey will receive some algae which I gathered at Twofold Bay. I forwarded them by the "Great Britain" and perhaps, Sir William, you will have the kindness of causing them forwarded to our friend, the box being adressed to yourself.

Mr Dallachy is engaged collecting near Lake Hindmarsh,

Vic.

from whence he sent already a new , & other great rarities not before known in Victoria. I shall be able to send you a magnificent collection of dried plants at the end of the season, including Dr Becklers

Beckler was collecting for M in the Northern Rivers district of NSW.

& what I may find in the S.W. never ascended alps, for the exploration of which I am now preparing.

By the great Britain I have forwarded under very kind care of the Commander a small box with a living plant of & , to be delivered by the Director of the Botanic Gardens of Liverpool.

I shall write to Professor Harvey by this mail.

Letter not found.

Pray give Dr Hooker my kind regards.

May providence bless you with health & happiness,

your humble

Ferd. Mueller.

The first volume of my flora is likely to appear at the end of the year. I hope you will permit me to dedicate it to you.

B62.03.03. The dedication reads: 'As a tribute of the author's high regard and gratitude, these pages are dedicated to Charles Joseph La Trobe, Esq., C.B., to whom, as former Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, this work owes its origin, to Sir William Jackson Hooker, K.H., the Nestor of botanists, who, for above half a century, has been a leading star in phytological enquiry; and to Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B., Governor of Victoria, under whose unceasing encouragement these volumes are advancing to completion.'