Document information

Physical location:

52.12.00

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Editor of the Argus, 1852-12. 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//letters/1850-9/1852/52-12-00-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Notes on the Indigenous plants of Victoria', Argus, 1 January 1853, p. 5 (B53.01.01).
While the indigenous vegetation of this country, so far as I can judge during a brief stay, displays a number of peculiar forms, especially in the higher hills, it also presents a great analogy with that of the neighbouring colonies, chiefly with Van Diemen's Land. The ferns which abound in the shaded valleys do not, with a few exceptions, differ from those of that island. The same noble forms of the tree fern ( ) occupy the dry sides of the hills, and of this the most common of the arborescent species of the overflowed valleys ( ), the stem of the latter being clothed as in Van Diemen's Land with the transparent ,
2
Typesetter's error for Hymenophyllum?
, , and other tender ferns, but affording at the same time nourishment to , to ,
3
Typesetter's error for straminea?
resembling the gigantic parasites of the virgin forests of the tropics, or to the magnificent sassafras tree ( ), which latter for some time kindly vegetates with the fern-trees, but in the course of time overwhelms or destroys it. But with these, as well as the musk aster ( )
4
Typesetter's error for argophylla?
the s and other Tasmanian plants are mixed, numerous species entirely new to science, among which four new Panax species (P Dendroides, P Dallachii, P Panoclobus,
5
Typesetter's error for paucilobus?
P Angubifolius)
6
Typesetter's error for angustifolius?
originally discovered by the assiduity of Mr Dillachy,
7
Dallachy.
and the Australian mulberry tree, form a prominent feature in the scenery, and are often accompanied by the beautiful Bignonia-like Fecoma
8
Typesetter's error for Tecoma?
Latrobei. The following plants likewise deserve notice, as either remarkable or ornamental, and apparently peculiar to the nearest ranges:—
9
Typesetter's error for Correa ochroleuca?
and , both with the medical properties of the Bucco-bush, ,
10
Used by M as a variety name within E. alpicola in B60.13.01, p. 230.
E Rugosa, E Adenophylla,
11
Name not found (APNI, accessed 1 July 2020).
E Asterotristia,
12
Typesetter's error for asterotricha?
Sambucus, Gaudichaudiana,
13
Typesetters erroneous punctuation of Sambucus gaudichaudiana?
(the valuable elder of Australia), Senectio
14
Typesetter's error for Senecio?
vagus, the aromatic, ,
15
Typesetters error for hirtula?
(powerful surrogate of the Mezerion
16
Daphne gnidium, the source of the vesicating bark 'cortex gniddi' in materia medica.
shrub), , P Angustifolia, P. brachypoda, Bossidea
17
Typesetter's error for Bossiaea?
decumbens, Asterotristia
18
Typesetter's error for Astrotricha?
asperifolia, ,
19
Typesetter's error for baueraefolia
, , and Dallachiana. This latter is found more frequently towards the east, and several beautiful species were observed in the lower country, viz, G. Latrobei, G Chrysophaea, G induta, while in the remotest Grampian ranges amidst other subalpine plants noticed by Sir T Mitchell,
20
Lindley named Grevillea species from the Grampians in Mitchell (1838), vol. 2, p. 178.
very different species are discovered. Those of the hills and their associates are often formed with graceful climbers ( , B. macrantha, B finitima, ), ornamented.
Amongst the Eucalyptus trees, the principal timber of Australia, hardly any agree specifically with those of Van Diemen's Land, but they are exactly similar to those of South Australia. They consist of the Red Gum, (E. rostrata); the Peppermint, (E odorata); the Manna tree, (E. sacchariflua), the Stringy- bark tree, (E Fabrorum). These and others, like the Indian maleleucas,
21
Typesetter's error for melaleuca?
are remarkable for the Cajeput-oil contained in their leaves, and in the gums which exude from their stems, and in this point of view alone considering their boundless number, their value can hardly be over-estimated. For the sake of these and other valuaable
22
In the source text the word is split at the end of a line: valua-able.
substances, the vegetable kingdom of this Colony is well worthy the attention of Naturalists. The gum of some of the acacias, for instance, will probably stand comparison with the valuable gum arabic. Thus bark and timber are likewise useful, and most likely, with the sandaric of the pines ( ), would be valuable as export. The Beygera
23
Typesetter's error for Beyera?
ledifolia and are purgatives. The Sabaca
24
Typesetter's error for Sebaea?
arata,
25
Typesetter's error for aurea?
a plant which abounds in our grassy meadows, has important medical virtues, and the rarer is an excellent tonic.
26
Many of the names given in this list were never described formally by M, but were repeated in B53.10.01 and are nomina nuda.
Dr. FRED. MUELLER.