Document information

Physical location:

MS 1104, National Library of Australia, Canberra. 67.06.12

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Ronald Gunn, 1867-06-12. 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/67-06-12>, accessed September 11, 2025

Stategarden 12/6/67
At a late hour, dear Mr Gunn, I can but briefly & hurriedly respond to your most interesting letter;
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Letter not found.
still to remove the impression that I advanced inconscientiously observations not sufficiently relieable, let me seriatim defend my views. But do not misunderstand me. I was glad to obtain your highly valuable opinions in so manly and candid a manner; in the same spirit I offer my reply. Only last month a stem of
Cyathea medullaris

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was measured at Dandenong, 25 miles from Melbourne, 70 feet,
Alsophila excelsa

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in Norfolk Island is measured 80 feet. I have seen
Alsophila Australis

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at Wilsons Promontory (where
Melaleuca squarrosa

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grows 80' high with 2' diameter of stem) myself fully 50 feet high. Still such large sizes are exceptional & depend on favorable local influences.
Altho', as you rightly observe,
Dicksonia antarctica

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grows in the vallies &
Alsophila Australis

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more on the slopes of the ranges, I find here in exposed flatlands aways from the mountains the thicker stem & the more rigid foliage of the Dicksonia much better calculated to cope with our heat than Alsophila. In the alps I have seen Dicksonia 4000' high
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At 4000' elevation?
but not Alsophila. The measurement of
Eucalyptus amygdalina

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420 feet was made with a tap line! The hight of 500' is given by a most trustworthy surveyor. Mr Heyne did not measure the out & in but real circumference. You must remember our climate is much warmer, than that of Tasmania. Thus the larger development of the trees. You can easily see the big Eucalypts on a visit to us here, which I hope you will pay us. I intend to take Prince Alfred also to the ranges, to show to his Royal Highness these gigants in his mothers country.
Hymenanthera Banksii

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I saw 30' high at the Genoa in E Gipps land,
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Genoa River.
where the
Corypha

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palm grows 80' high! It is common there (the Hymenanthera)
Correa Lawrenciana

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I measured nearly 40' high in the deep morasses among
Fagus Cunninghami

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between Apollo Bay & Cape Otway. This is the only place where it grows so high. There a
Cyathea medullaris

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was measured also over 50'.
Plagianthus pulchellus

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I have seen 30-40 feet high in places, where in deep forest recesses
Acacia decurrens

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grows approximately 150' high.
Pomaderris elliptica

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is a stately tree towards the summit of Mount Macedon, quite as high as tall individuals of P. apetala
Goodia lotifolia

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approaches to 30 feet, in favorable spots, but I have no data written down on its hight, as far as I remember
Acacia penninervis

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is so common in many of our mountains, especi[ally]
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at subalpine hights & in localities where the vegetation is half Tasmanian, that the occurrence of this tree in V.DL would not be surprising. Bentham introduced it, on the authority of a specimen from Oldfield with the II. vol. of the Flor Austr. (pag 362).
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Bentham (1863-78), vol. 2.
Oldfield found it on Mount Wellington (Browns road) It cannot possibly be confused with any other species. You must kindly bear in mind, that Dr Hooker omitted also in the flora of Tasmania
Panax sambucifolius

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, which I got from Dr Milligan! (a species 30-40' high, though probably less so with you),
Lyperanthus suaveolens

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,
Cassinia longifolia

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and several other Tasmanian undoubted species.
Acacia mollissima

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& A dealbata grow both here on one ridge. The difference in flowering time, which I noted for many years, arises from the very difference of locali[ty.]
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This is analogous to what may be observed in middle Europe regarding
Euphrasia verna

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and
Euphrasia Odontites

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. You must kindly remember, that in dealing with species, I have specimens from an immense area, & while in Tasmania under local conditions middle forms are wanting, in Australia such is not the case.
Acacia discolor

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is certainly in E Gipps land approximately 30' high.
I only regret that I did not mark with a star or other sign those trees in the list, which only exceptionally rise to 30 feet.
My seed collector in the Garden will be asked tomorrow about the ripening of
Acacia mollissima

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& dealbata, both common on the Yarra.
You are right regarding
Tetracarpaea

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It must be eliminated from the list. I never saw the plant in nature & was under the illusion it was a tree , like many cunoniaceus
Saxifrageae

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. Many thanks for the
Epacrideae

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correction. I do admit with Klotzsch & other writers only as a tribe of
Ericeae

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. I have a section of a stem of
Prionotes

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from South Port nearly ½ a foot across. But that may be exceptional Does
Fagus Gunnii

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not rise to good
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good written over greater.
hight in favored spots?
Banksia australis

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you may see here 50' high, & 40' it is frequently Exocarpus cupressiform[is]
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editorial addition – text obscured by binding.
was clerically omitted. Beyera
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Beyeria?
oblongifolia (or rather viscosa) is an acceptable addition I hardly remember having seen it so high.
Casuarina suberosa

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is only a variety of the old C. stricta of Aiton
I take "homo sapiens" as a type of what a species is.
Trusting that your health is restored & that you will always frankly express your views, which from so exper[ienced]
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editorial addition – text obscured by binding.
a naturalist come always with great weight, I remain your regardful
Ferd. Mueller
I am still without
Oenothera Tasmanica

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