The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ The Catholic clergyman, B. Scortechini, with whom I corresponded very much during his residence in Queensland about the native plants there, writes to me from Perak ¶ Scortechini was appointed Gove...

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84.10.00a

Plant names

Agonis Scortechiniana
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Bossiaea Scortechinii
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Brachyloma Scortechinii
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Cyathodes
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Dodonaea Macrossani
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Fagraea
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Helicia
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Leptospermum
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Leucopogon
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Styphelia
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Gartenflora, 1884-10 [84.10.00a]. 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/84-10-00a>, accessed September 11, 2025

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Die Erforschung der Provinz Perak auf der Malayischen Halbinsel durch B. Scortechini nach Berichten vom Herrn Baron F. v. Müller in Melbourne' [Exploration of the province of Perak on the Malay Peninsula by B. Scortechini as reported by Baron F. v. Mueller in Melbourne], in 'Personalnotizen und Correspondenz' [Personal notices and correspondence], Gartenflora , vol. 33, p. 382 (B84.12.05). The letter is dated to October as the latest likely date that it could have been sent in order to have been included in the December issue of the journal.

Der katholische Geistliche, B. Scortechini, mit dem ich während seines Aufenthalts in Queensland viel über dort einheimische Pflanzen korrespondierte, schreibt mir aus Perak, dass am Gunoy-Bunu-Berge er eine entdeckt habe, deren Blumendurchmesser sich über einen Fuss erstreckt! Der Duft derselben ist herrlich, und so mag auch eine ganze ausserordenllich prächtige Pflanze für Kultur erworben werden, obwohl der epiphytische Wuchs dieser der Kultur einige Schwierigkeit entgegensetzen mag. Die Dicke des Griffels ist über einen halben Zoll. Keinem der ihn begleitenden Eingebornen, deren er 30 mit sich hatte, war je diese auffallende herrliche Pflanze vorgekommen. In der Höhe von 5000 Fuss zeigen sich mehrere australische Pflanzenformen; so , , , und . Der vollere botanische Aufschluss der Malayschen Halbinsel, deren Vascular-Pflanzen der Rev. Scortechini auf 3000 Arten schätzt, durch diesen Geistlichen, ist dem wissenschaftlichen Sinn des Gouverneurs, Sir Frederick Weld zuzuschreiben.

There is an asterisk at this point, leading to the footnote 'Dem er durch den jetzt in Unter-Indien reisenden Geologen Rev. J. Tenison-Woods besonders empfohlen war' [To whom he was particularly recommended by the geologist Rev. J. Tenison Woods now travelling in lower India [i.e. the East Indies]].

Man sieht bei dieser Gelegenheit wieder recht deutlich, wie segensreich die höchsten Verwalter der Kolonien wirken können, wenn solche ein wissenschaftliches Interesse besitzen. In Australien, wo Scortechini seine botanischen Studien begann, entdeckte derselbe innerhalb seines Kirchensprengels in pflanzlich ziemlich bekannten Gegenden noch , , , und mehrere andere bis dahin unbekannte Pflanzen. Sein Auge ist daher nun in Pflanzenbeobachtung geübt und während er in den reichsten Tropenschätzen schwelgt, wird er mit streng wissenschaftlichem Geiste sein Entdeckungsfeld zu beherrschen wissen.

The Catholic clergyman, B. Scortechini, with whom I corresponded very much during his residence in Queensland about the native plants there, writes to me from Perak

Scortechini was appointed Government Botanist for Perak in early 1884, after arriving there by February: see Press (1994), p. 206.

that on Mount Gunoy-Bunu

Mt Gunung Bubu? Scortechini, accompanied by Julian Tenison-Woods, had 'recently completed' an ascent of the mountain in June 1884: see Express and telegraph (Adelaide), 30 July 1884, p. 4, quoting from the Straits times of 11 June.

he has discovered a Fragaea the flower diameter of which extends over a foot! Its scent is magnificent and so a quite exceptionally superb plant may even be acquired for cultivation, although the epiphytic growth of this Fragaea may offer some difficulty to cultivation. The thickness of the style is over half an inch. None of the 30 natives who accompanied him had ever found this striking, glorious plant. Several Australian plant forms appear at the height of 5000 feet, so , , , and . The fuller botanical disclosure of the Malay Peninsula, the vascular plants of which are estimated at 3000 species by Rev. Scortechini, is to be accredited to the scientific spirit of the Governor, Sir Frederick Weld. By this opportunity one sees again very clearly how beneficially the highest administrators of the colonies can function, when they have a scientific interest. In Australia, where Scortechini began his botanical studies, he still discovered within his diocese, in regions rather well known botanically, Dodonaea macrossani, Bossiaea scortechinii , Agonis scortechiniana , Brachyloma scortechinii

These species were described by M, with Scortechini as joint author of .

and several other plants until then unknown. His eye is therefore now trained in plant observation and while he delights in the richest tropical treasures, he will know how to control his field of discovery with strict scientific intellect.