The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne bot. Gardens ¶ [7] June 1858. ¶ Sir George. ¶ ¶ In forwarding a parcel of seeds to the bot. Garden of Cape Town, I do myself the pleasure of adding to it a few pamphlets, which I hope your ...

Document information

Physical location:

Auckland Central City Library, Grey papers, GL M50(1). 58.06.07

Plant names

Araucaria
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Arthrotaxis selaginoides
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Calamus Australis
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Flagellaria Indica
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- Australian Plant Name Index

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to George Grey, 1858-06-07. 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/1850-9/1858/58-06-07-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

Melbourne bot. Gardens

[7] June 1858.

Sir George.

In forwarding a parcel of seeds to the bot. Garden of Cape Town, I do myself the pleasure of adding to it a few pamphlets, which I hope your Excellency will accept as a very small token of respect and admiration.

I beg to thank your Excellency also on this occasion for the kind promise of fostering the mutual interchanges between these gardens & those of South Africa, and I trust, that finally much advantage to the colonists will be derived from this intercourse.

Being engaged on a general work on the plants of Australia, your Excellency will pardon me perhaps when enquiring, whether the Calamus noticed in your Excellencys travel through N.W. Australia,

Grey (1841) vol. 1, p. 246.

is perhaps identical with the [enclosed] , which I observed extending to the jungles of Arnhem's Land. I am only acquainted with from East [Australia]. I would beg leave also to enquire, whether your Excellency is perhaps in possession yet even of the smallest [sprick] of the N.W. Australian figured in your work, so that a diagnosis might be furnished of it.

Grey (1841) vol 1, p. 248: 'the Excelsa was found on the heights, both near the sea coast and further inland'. There is also an illustration 'Attack of natives near Hanover Bay' in vol. 1, p. 106 which includes trees that may be s as part of the background.

I should feel extremely proud to gain the opportunity of distinguishing this doubtless undescribed species with your Excellencys celebrated name.

N species of named by M for Grey has been found (APNI accessed 20 October 2019).

Neither in Central Australia, nor in Arnhems Land, nor around the Gulf of Carpentaria did we notice any during Mr Gregory's expedition. A very magnificent new with leaves like

Athrotaxis selaginoides?

was lately forwarded to me for description from New Caledonia.

Presumably rulei (B61.09.01, p. 868).

I would crave again your Excellencys pardon for enclosing a letter to Mr Thos. Baines,

Letter not found.

a fellow traveller of mine in North Australia, who in all likelihood by this time will have arrived under Dr Livingstones engagements at Capetown.

Should your Excellency regard the humble labours of our [on]struggling scientific societies in Australia of sufficient value for future acceptance, I should feel happy to furnish them with regularity.

I remain with [very] greatest admiration for your Excellencys achievements as a geographer, as a statesman and as a philanthrop

your most humble & attached

Ferd. Mueller,

M.D, Ph. D.

His Excellency Sir G. Gray, K.C.B. &c &c &c.

Governor General of South Africa