Document information
Physical location:
RB MSS M124, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 85.00.00bPreferred Citation:
W. Anthony Persieh to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1885 [85.00.00b]. 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/85-00-00b>, accessed July 16, 2025
1
MS is an undated fragment, found with a fruiting specimen of
Eucalyptus leptophleba
(MEL 1616068), annotated by Persieh: 'sende nochmals die reife Frucht E. leptophleba' [I send once more the ripe fruit]. MS annotation by M: 'E. leptophleba'. Specimen is accompanied
by an envelope containing fruit, labelled by Persieh: '434 E. leptophleba'. Envelope
annotated by M: 'Endeavour R'. From what Persieh says, the specimen must have been sent later than the one he collected in March 1885 (MEL1607167); MS is dated to 1885 as the earliest that a more
mature fruit could have been sent.
Persieh collected in the Endeavour River area of Qld between at least 1877 or 1878
(see M's listing of him as a collector in B78.03.01, pp. 7, 16 and 17) and at least September 1887 (MEL 2256335 has a collection date of 2 September 1887).
Ich danke für die gesdt. E alba die hier nicht vorkommt platyphylla Tereticornis populifolia
latifolia Terminales Tessellaris und hemiphloia so wie crebra u Staigeriana kenne
ich ziemlich sicher hier vorkomend in des Herrn Barons Listen wird aufgegeben
E dichromophloia habe ich nicht mehr auffinden könen früher mit in den Listen aufgegeben
da fast alle meine Samlungen theilweise von Insekten u wenn abwesend von Ratzen u
Mäuse verzehrt oder zerstört geworden was oftmahls jetzt mir fast unmöglich ist zu
orientiren spec. Wegen der Holzsamlung bin ich erböthig 100 spec Blöcken nebst den
dazu gehörigen Blüthen Samen Früchte u Blatzweige wie die Saison erlaubt zu erheben
beifolgend zu senden 1 Fuss lange und von 9-12 Zoll Durchmesser solten 2 F. lang erwünscht
so bitte zu bemerken oder sonstige Länge u Diameter nächsten Monats ist der Saft wieder
die beste Zeit zu sägen
Enclosed I am sending once more to confirm the species formerly named
Eucalyptus platyphylla
but currently given as
E. leptophleba, as the fruit is now better developed. This species is frequently occurring here,
and is considered to be one of the finest and most useful gums by the bushmen.
I thank you for the
E. alba
sent, which does not occur here. I know with reasonable certainty that
E. platyphylla,
E. tereticornis,
E. populifolia,
E. latifolia,
E. terminalis,
E. tessellaris, and
E. hemiphloia, as well as
E. crebra
and
E. staigeriana, occur here, and they are given in the Baron's lists.
2
The wording suggests that the MS may have been sent to the Melbourne Herbarium rather
than to M personally. No list of the kind indicated has been identified.
I could no longer find
E. dichromophloia, which was previously given in the lists, as nearly all my collections have been
partly eaten or destroyed by insects and, while I was away, by rats and mice, which
makes it often almost impossible to locate specimens now.
In regard to the timber collections I offer to collect and send timber blocks of 100
species with the flowers, seed, fruit and branches with leaves to go with them as
the season permits, 1 foot long and 9-12 inches diameter. Please notify me, should
you want them 2 f. long, or any other length or diameter. Next month the sap is again
the best time to cut them.
Eucalyptus alba
Eucalyptus crebra
Eucalyptus dichromophloia
Eucalyptus hemiphloia
Eucalyptus latifolia
Eucalyptus leptophleba
Eucalyptus platyphylla
Eucalyptus populifolia
Eucalyptus staigeriana
Eucalyptus tereticornis
Eucalyptus terminalis
Eucalyptus tessellaris