Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'The Open Column', Northern star (Lismore, NSW), 8 June 1878, p. [3] (B78.06.08). M's letter is preceded by a letter from Fawcett to the Editor:

Sir—I request you will be so good as to publish in the 'Express' the following letter from Baron von Mueller, to whom, for his unwearied exertions in the investigation of the Flora of Australia during the last twenty-five years, all these colonies are so deeply indebted. When the remarkable plant, to which the learned Baron refers, is fully described by him, I shall crave permission to place the description of it before your readers; and probably, at no distant period, I shall ask leave to publish a list of my collections of late. —I am sir, yours truly,

CHARLES H. FAWCETT.

Ballina, 31 May, 1878.

The same letters appeared in 'Correspondence', Richmond River express and Tweed advertiser (Casino, NSW), 8 June 1878 (B78.06.07), a clipping of which is filed with a specimen of Bulbophyllum minutissimum (MEL 1540829).

Neither re-publication in these papers of M's description in B78.11.04, p. 53, nor a list of Fawcett's collections has been found, but he collected 146 timber specimens for the Sydney International Exhibition (Northern star, 23 August 1879, p. 2).

Melbourne, 20 May, 1878

Herewith, dear Mr. Fawcett, I remind you of

Bolbophyllum minutissimum

Search for Bolbophyllum minutissimum in

• This website
• Australian Plant Name Index

(

Dendrobium minutissimum

Search for Dendrobium minutissimum in

• This website
• Australian Plant Name Index

: Fragmphytogr: Australiae, V, 95)

2

Typesetter's error for Fragm. phytogr. Australiae? B65.11.01, p. 95.

, with a view that you will kindly draw attention to this minutest of all orchids in an early number of your local paper, by which means this highly curious and delicate production of the floral world of your colony would become widely known and extensively searched for.

In 1857 our late and erudite friend, Mr. Will. Sharp M'Leay, showed me a cultivated specimen without flower as a Dendrobium,

3

For the circumstances of the cultivation see R. King to M, 1 April 1879; for a dispute about M's memory of seeing this plant in cultivation, see M to Gardeners' chronicle, November 1878 (in this edition as 78-11-00b), responded to in G. M'Leay to Gardeners' chronicle, 11 January 1879 and quoted in n. 3 to M to Gardeners' chronicle, May 1879 (in this edition as 79-05-00c).

and I never saw the plant since until I received this specimen in the course of this month from you, who with such perseverance investigate the rich vegetation on the Richmond River.

4

M was in Sydney for much of the first half of 1857, writing up the botanical results of the North Australian Exploring Expedition.

Mr M'Leay's specimens were from the vicinity of Botany-Bay, whereas the rediscovery of this little plant so much further North would indicate that it may have a wide range on the East coast, being merely overlooked on account of its minuteness. The specimens now obtained are in fruit, but taking everything known of this plantlet into consideration I feel justified in placing it in the genus Bolbobhyllum. Renewed attention now being drawn to this plant, it will doubtless be got also again at Botany-Bay, altho' concealed among mosses and lichens it may so easily be passed. The minute, flat, disc-like, pseudobulbs, prettily bead-like arranged, are very remarkable and elegant; not measuring above ⅛ inch in diameter.