Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M16, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 79.04.15

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Patrick O'Shanesy to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1879-04-15. 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/79-04-15>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
MS annotation by M: 'Answ 28/4/79 FvM'. Letter not found.
Cometville
2
Qld.
April 15 1879
Dear Baron von Mueller
I have just received the names of the plants you so kindly sent
3
Letter not found.
for which I am very thankful.
I have much pleasure in forwarding another lot which I hope will reach you safely. The little annual Portulaca on top of parcel is I believe your P . bicolor . (flowers yellow) the other tuberous rooted P. with cordate leaves is not described in the Flora , and the other remaining one is, I believe, your P. napiformis . These will grow after they reach you. You apparently forget that you have already named a Capparis for me. (C. Shanesiana) from Gracemere,
4
See B77.02.03, p. 94.
and as you say this one (n. 3029) is quite new I should like to name it C. Muellerii.
5
M never described a species under this name.
This shrub is also found in the neighborhood of Rockhampton, but I never found it in flower till lately up here. What is my Acacia n. 3056? It produces a very valuable timber similar to "Rosewood", Acacia sp. I have never seen the wood of Acacia Osswaldi , it is but a middlesized shrub or small tree. It appears to me that some of the varieties of Sida Corrugata should be considered as species. I will try and get seeds of
Velleya

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for you. The Hibiscus , n. 3045 which you send as H. divaricatus differs considerably from the ordinary form, the flowers are 3½ to 4 inches long, and the trunk and branches are always covered with prickles. I can send seeds of
Ruellia

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. Is n. 3048
Goodenia gracilis

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? The leaves are altogether different to the one described under that name in the Flora . I am thankful for naming my Hibiscus n. 3052 for me. You must have mistaken my Abutilon n. 3053 for A. tubulosum, as it appears to me to differ entirely from that species. I was under the impression that Casuarina equisetifolia was confined to the Islands along the Coast of Q. L.
6
Qld.
My Eucalyptus n. 3061 (sent by you under n. 3016) which you say is E. crebra is a totally different tree to the one which you formerly named for me as E. crebra and which I believe to have been correctly named by you.
7
See also P. O'Shanesy to M, 17 July 1879.
The flowers of Hibiscus Kirchauffiana
8
Krichauffianus?
are blue , not yellow. In asking you for the names of the timber trees I only meant those I am sending in the present collections from this district as I am thoroughly acquainted with all of the Rockhampton woods with the exception of a few of the Acacias , Have you an Acacia from Rockhampton under the name of "rosewood?"
I have much pleasure in forwarding another collection and trust you will find something among them to interest you. my
Aristida

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n. 3068 is quite new to me.
I enclose a leaf of a very remarkable
Solanum

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which I have just found on the ranges here, I cannot find it in the Flora , I will send sample when I get fruit.
I am Dr Baron Mueller
Yours Very Sincerely
P. A. O'Shanesy