Document information
Physical location:
Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide, SA. 88.09.17Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to Ralph Tate, 1888-09-17. 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/88-09-17>, accessed September 11, 2025
17/9/88
It will interest you, dear Prof Tate, that Lepilaena australis has just been found
by Mr Ch. French near Bordertown,
as new for S.A. He got there also Xerotes juncea.
1
SA. Charles French Snr; he is listed as the collector in 1888 of
Lepilaena
australis
and
Xerotes juncea
(MEL 3894 and MEL 20625 respectively).
I see by publications arrived by last mail, that Prof Engler of Breslau now also declares
the supposed proteaceous relics from the Vienna-Becken, described by Unger and Ettingshausen,
not
to be proteaceous. It was always considered remarkable, that no fruits, so hard as
those of proteaceae, were ever found with the leaves, which certainly reminded of
those of Banksias &c
2
i.e. Vienna Basin. See Engler (1889), p. 127, Ünger (1851), and Ettingshausen (1852).
3
Schenk, in Schimper & Schenk (1890), pp. 843, expresses similar doubts to Engler: 'Dass Proteaceen in der Tertiärzeit in Europa und Nordamerika existirt
haben, halte ich für eine nicht durch Thatsachen unterstützte Behauptung' [That Proteaceae existed in Europe and North America in the Tertiary Period I consider
an assertion
not supported by facts
]
.
Mr French stayed only a few day at Border-town; I feel sure, that many other rare
plants exist in that region as yet unfound.
Always regardfully your
Ferd von Mueller
If you have not already joined the R.G.S. and the R Hort. Soc
of Engl. I will gladly propose you
4
Royal Geographical Society, Royal Horticultural Society. M again suggested that Tate join the Royal Geographical Society (M to R. Tate, 18 June 1890), but no evidence of a nomination has been found. The relevant membership records
for the Royal Horticultural Society no longer exist.
Banksia
Lepilaena australis
Proteaceae
Xerotes juncea