The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Buchan River, 22 Jan. 55. ¶ Sir William ¶ ¶ Since I had the honor of addressing you the last time from Omeo, ¶ I proceeded to the North-western branches of the Australian Alps, where I ascended all ...

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RBG Kew, Directors' letters, vol. LXXIV, Australia letters 1851-8, letter no. 148. 55.01.22

Plant names

Alchemilla vulgaris
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Andraea
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Anemone
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Arenaria
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Botrychium Lunaria
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Calotis
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Caltha
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Carex
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Carex stellulata
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Coprosma nitida
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Craspedia leucantha
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Eriostemon
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Euphrasia
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Gnaphalium
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Haplopappus
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Lycopodium Selago
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Lycopodium varium
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Oreobolus
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Orites
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Orites planifolia
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Pentachondra
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Phebalium
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Plantago
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Ranunculus
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Rutidosis helichrysoides
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Scirpus Rothii
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Scirpus triqueter
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Solenogyne pubescens
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Umbelliferae
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Velleya exigua
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Veronica
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Veronica serpillifolia
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Hooker, 1855-01-22. 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/55-01-22>, accessed May 18, 2024

For an edited copy of this letter see B55.08.01 and 55.12.03. The changes in the printed version noted here are those that alter sense, or the spelling of plant and place names.

Buchan River, 22 Jan. 55.

Sir William

Since I had the honor of addressing you the last time from Omeo,

M to W. Hooker, 16 December 1854.

I proceeded to the North-western branches of the Australian Alps, where I ascended all the most prominent heights, including Mt Koskiusko.

Kosciuszko.

I found the distribution of the alpine plants during this excursion to be more general as I anticipated, but had the pleasure of observing many species here at first in a sufficiently developed state, to form of them a correct idea. Of most of the new species I procured a good supply, which I had however a great difficulty to keep dry against fog and afterwards in the lower ranges against rain. Seeds were yet in only a few instances ripened. Preparing to revisit now the Cabbage-tree-country beyond the Snowy River, which I had on account of many unforseen adversities, the hostility of the natives and the unfavourable weather, but little opportunity to explore last year, — I shall only be enabled to allude briefly to the more interesting plants from the Alps, which I lately discovered. —

One of the most remarkable amongst them is assuredly a large-flowering , with generally numerous and always white petals, having much the habit of an . It grows very seldom below 6000', and chiefly on springs and on the margin of smelting snow. 5 , belonging to as many distinct genera are consociated with it, as also a dwarf inconspicuous Composite with leaves much like , a slender procumbent ?, a monostachyous , a rooting , a very distinct and a smooth Craspedia (C. leucantha) with white flowers and broad-sphacelate scales. At the heighest mountains on stony ground I was not a little struck with a diandrous plant allied to , having the leaves densely crowded in four rows. Accompanied it was with a small hispid , and with a mosslike-tufted ?

The ranunculaceous alisma-like

printed version has ' -like'.

plant with inward bend leaves, to which I previously referred, is about the [Munyang] Mountains frequent enough

Now known as the Snowy Mountains. printed version has is frequent enough on the Munzong Mountains.

and after having seen in it in a more advanced state I am much inclined to refer it to .

See M to W. Hooker, 16 December 1854 (in this edition as 54-12-16a).

I am however entirely deprived of books during the expeditions, so as to settle these questions at once.

Singularly enough fell into my hands abundantly in some parts of the Alps, occuring like and

printed version has 'Serpyllifolia?'

here never in the low-land. , which appears hardly to be distinct from L. Selago, and belong also to the higher country. But one of the most interesting additions to our alp-flora forms undoubtedly a little annual , erect, yet seldom above 2" high. — , the species from Mt Hotham,

Now Mt Feathertop.

I saw ranging for miles along with a fine ovate-leaved lepidote or . It has always entire leaves and I may therefore consider it as a new species ( ).

MS name? Perhaps what Mueller published as lancifolia (B55.09.03, p. 108)?

— is not rare in the Snowy Mountains and two herbaceous plants, appearently new, of the same family were also discovered in the lower country together with a second spec of Solenogyne (S. pubescens);

has not been found (APNI, accessed 15 December 2020).

a Velleya, which in Stuarts herbar I called V. exigua,

' ' is the name on M's label for Stuart's specimen at Kew (K 215446), where it is stored under Velleia montana, the name given when described by J. Hooker (1847), p. 265.

a Rutidosis, I suppose R. helichrysoides, , (S. triqueter, R. Br) and a very distinct glandulous . Two interesting mosses are growing on rocks, which are constantly washed by the smelting snow, one of them adding the genus to the flora of New Holland.

After having traversed now the main chains of the snowy mountains in so many directions, I am led to believe, that the plants mentioned in this and the two previous letters together with those noticed in my reports comprehend almost completely the Alps-flora of this continent. I wandered for days over the snowy hills without being able of adding a single species to the collections. I should be delighted, Sir William, in finding after my return Dr Hookers flora of N. Zeel. and what may be printed of the Flora Tasmanica,

J. Hooker (1853-5), (1855-60).

arrived by your orders so that I can draw a comparison in the botanical features of the Australian highlands.

In case the weather continues long enough dry I may have an opportunity after my return from the Cabbagetree-country to proceed to the sources of the Yarra or of the LaTrobe River, as the al[most]

editorial addition — obscured by sealing wax.

impenetrable scrub along its banks may conceal yet many a botanical novelty or rarety.

I need hardly say, that my remittances for books, which you, Sir William, might obligedly order for me, will be at all times prompt and regular.

I remain, Sir william,

With my ardent wishes for your welfare

your most devoted Servant

Ferd. Mueller.

Sir W. J. Hooker, K.H. &c &c &c