Ferdinand von Mueller

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Date stamped: Royal Gardens Kew 27. Jun. 88. Annotated in ink at top left of page 371-1888, and (by Thiselton-Dyer?): Thanked 10.7.88. (l etter not found).

23/5/88.

My principal reason for writing this time, dear Prof Dyer, is to say, that Mr Frogatt,

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i.e. Walter Froggatt .

who was Entomologist to Capt Everill's New Guinea Expedition, and who has since been engaged by the Hon. Will Macleay for collecting Insects in NW. Australia, brings you — while on a first Visit to Europe — an only plant

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plant underlined in red pencil. The specimen was noted as having been brought by Walter Froggatt (Kew Inwards Book, 1888-1892, July 2, p. 65, entry number 371), with an added note in red ink ‘Dead Aug. 88’.

in my possession (indeed any where existing in cuture here) of Telopea oreades.

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Telopea oreades underlined in red pencil. Annotations in ink : Recd. 2.viii. 88 in left margin, and Seeds also were recd. June 30-88 from Mr Maiden Techn. Mus. Sydney at foot of f. 252, front .

I am not certain, whether you have T. truncata,

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Annotation in red pencil interlined below Truncata: Yes.

but anyhow that plant is quite distinct from T. oreades, I have studied both in their native haunts

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I have … haunts is a marginal note with intended position indicated by an asterisk .

though both are more closely cognate than to T. speciosissima. Both would delight in mild frosts , so that with shelter from wind and some slight cover they could be kept likely in the open air of the Channel-Islands and even perhaps at Kew As this unique specimen was however carried 200 miles from the Highlands of East Gippsland (packed in Moss) by hand , and as I established it in its pot for more than 6 months, it is too valuable to be trusted out at Kew. What a glorious sight it will be one day there, to have both these hardy Telopeas along with Dracophyllum Milligani

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Dracophyllum Milligani underlined in red pencil and annotation in red pencil interlined below Milligani : what is this?

and Richea pandanifolia in the open garden! Mr Frogatt will bestow every care on the plant; but still it will have to pass the ordeal of the Red Sea. I have planted out here a shrub of red flowered Correa Lawrenciana; perhaps it will be of avail to put a cutting into the Telopea pot.

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Annotation in red pencil after pot : not found.

I wrote lately again to Sir Joseph about the likelihood of Chenolea hirsuta existing on the British coast.

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See M to J. Hooker, 25 April 1888.

It is easily missed, as from its specific name you would look for a plant with some vestiture, whereas frequently it is almost as glabrous as Suaeda maritima. I think Scirpus radicans (not always true to the character of its specific name) & Juncus Tenagiea ought also to turn up in Britain.

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Postscript continues into left margin, f. 253, back.

Your important "Bulletins" will be duely noted in the new Edition of the "Select plants".

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Paragraph in left margin, f. 253, front. Thiselton-Dyer began the Bulletin of miscellaneous infor m ation in January 1887; the Bulletin was among the sources listed in B88.12.01, p. v.