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58.10.24

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John O'Shanassy, 1858-10-24. 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/1850-9/1858/58-10-24-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
Letter not found. For the text given here, see B58.11.02.
REPORT.
Melbourne Botanic Garden,
24th October, 1858.
Sir,
I have the honor of transmitting to you my Annual Report on the progress of our labors in the Botanical Garden.
Of the ground destined for an arrangement of plants according to their botanical affinity, two acres were trenched, and by gradually securing the requisite genera and species, more than one hundred of the principal exogenous orders are now represented in this plantation by about 1700 plants. This class-ground cannot fail to become still a greater source of instruction to the botanical enquirer than it has been already, especially when extended over the endogenous orders, and when its plants are more advanced in growth.
A further increase of the cultivated ground has been effected by the enlargement of several borders and by laying out a new nursery of plants on the slopes of our southern valley.
The barren declivity which fronts the western portion of the lagoon has been planted for the formation of a future Pine forest, with lines of Aleppo pine, with rows of Moreton Bay and Norfolk Island Araucarias, and with groups of miscellaneous Coniferæ, comprising 226 trees, many of great rarity, and all equally calculated to beautify the spot and to become an ornament in our landscape. In planting this Pinetum the silurian rock had to be replaced by trap soil from the banks of the Yarra, and was used in raising a new walk on the south-western side of the lagoon.
During the summer and autumn season an effectual system of draining was adopted throughout the greater portion of the cultivated ground, by laying numerous lines of lasting underground drain-pipes, varying from four inches to nine inches in width, and by lining many of the walks and borders with brick or stone gutters, the material for the latter and for the largest drains being obtained in our quarry. Thus much labor formerly lost in repairs, after those devastations which every rainstorm left on the undulated ridges of our garden, will henceforth be saved.
The whole of the cultivated ground, extending now over about eighteen acres has been dug this season, and many improvements have been effected by additions to the variety of plants in the shrubberies, by their occasional re-arrangement, and by the completion and partial renewal of the edges.
In order to afford the shade necessary for the enjoyment of a pleasant walk, in a climate like ours, avenues have been planted through most of the lawns. The quick-growing Moreton Bay Grevillea (Gr. robusta) and the Maple-like Flame-tree of Illawarra (
Brachychiton acerifolium

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), were principally chosen for this purpose, not only as being readily available, but also as combining a beautiful evergreen foliage with ornamental flowers. The soil for planting these trees had also to be brought from a considerable distance. The lines of Blue Gum trees (
Eucalyptus globulus

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), planted along the banks of the Yarra towards the city and along the St. Kilda road, have been extended over the southern limits of our ground.
We also proceeded with laying out the remainder of the garden walks, some of which, however, are yet to be covered with layers of gravel. Their continuation throughout the reserve, in combination with avenues, the formation of islands in the lagoon, for the habitation of aquatic birds, and the extension of the Yan Yean pipes to the higher parts of our ground for irrigation, will probably be works of future years.
2
See Lamb (1996).
Easier access has been given to the garden by several new gates. Seats and resting places, although increased in number, are not yet proportionate to the requirements of our extensive ground, and will be augmented.
About 780 conspicuous iron labels, containing the scientific and (where such exist) the vernacular name of the plant to which they are attached, as well as its classification and native country, have been distributed over the ground, and by contracts already entered into this number will probably be augmented to 2000 before the end of the year.
The increase and improvements of the buildings have been considerable. Two dwelling cottages and a tool-house, with a working shade constructed of wood, were erected in the paddock; whilst in the southern part of the garden a spacious and elegant palm-house is now nearly ready for the reception of tropical plants. This, as well as a tasteful pavilion, built in a conspicuous position, contributes greatly to enhance the beauty of the park-like south-eastern rise of the garden.
It would, however, be unjust to omit acknowledging on this occasion the generous liberality which we experienced from the Honorable the Chief Commissioner of Public Works, in aiding invariably the building works of this establishment.
We enjoyed weekly at the pavilion, till late in the autumn, the excellent music of the military band; and the greatest thanks are due to the kindness of the Officers of the 40th Regiment, and to the exertions of Mr. Johnson, the master, and the other members of the regimental band, in offering such an additional charm to the visitors of the garden.
The aviary and the menagerie, both established within the year, have likewise become very attractive to the public. The former already contains a fair variety of singing birds, and is placed in the dense shrubbery of the valley between the rustic bridge and the lake, in order that the sight and song of the birds may be fully enjoyed without disturbing them. This aviary will be extended to the other side of the bridge, and in adding the new wing, an arched bower over the bridge and a sheltered passage of flight may be formed. The contributors towards it have been Mrs. Cooper, Dr. Crozier, Mr. Dawkes, Dr. Harry, Mr. D. Mallett, Dr. Mueller, Mr. Neunaber, Hon. Capt. Pasley, Mr. Geo. Steelis, and Mr. Edw. Wilson;
3
Not all persons named in this list and in those below have been identified. Those for whom details have been found have entries in the Biographical Register.
whilst a large number of birds were entrusted to our care by the Philosophic Institute, with a view of effecting the domiciliation of of the young birds in our garden, and thereby gradually a general distribution of foreign song birds over Australia, a project which, in regard to canary birds, may be easily carried out during the ensuing season.
4
See Maroske & Gilfedder (1994).
The menagerie, established without special provision for conducting it, suffered from a scantiness of accommodation for the animals, and therefore sustained several losses, chiefly in the kangaroo tribe. It comprises, at present, emus, a Sumatra, and twelve English fallow deer, some monkeys, coalos
5
koalas.
or native bears, wallabys, Cape Barren geese, native companions, black swans, eagles, gulls, &c., which were the gifts of the following donors:— Capt. Anderson,
6
Possibly William Anderson.
Dr. Black, Mr. Boehme, Mr. Ch. Brooke, Mrs. Brown of South Yarra, Mr. Beilby, Capt. Cave, Mr. J. Cox
7
James Cox (1790-1866).
of Clarendon (to whose kindness we owe the whole of the English deer), Mrs. Major Davidson, Mr. E. K. Dawkes, Mrs. Dexter, Hon. C. G. Duffy, Dr. Embling, Messrs. James Francis, B. F. Kane, James Maines, D. Mallett, J. P. Martyn, Th. Meade, A. G. Mecklenburg, S. H. Merrett, Dr. Meyne, Mr. J. Moore (Under Secretary), Dr. Mueller, Messrs. D. C. Macarthur, Aug. Oldfield, W. H. Pay, Penson, Richardson, F. Selwyn (who contributed extensively on behalf of the Zoological Society), J. Ch. Tyler, and the Hon. G. Urquhart.
The hitherto only flock of Angora goats in this colony, introduced under great sacrifices by E. F. Sichel, Esq., and comprising seven in number, have been secured by purchase for the Zoological Gardens. The probable importance of these fine-fleeced animals in the future rural and pastoral economy of Australia, will now become more generally patent. From the proposed union of the Botanical and Zoological Gardens manifold advantages are likely to arise, the dry ridges of the former being far better adapted for the healthy preservation of most animals, than the low basaltic flats on the opposite bank of the Yarra, originally granted for the formation of a Zoological Garden, but which will become highly valuable to us in rearing an arboretum of such trees as it is almost hopeless to cultivate on this side of our area.
The Yarra foot-bridge lately completed has proved an important addition to the garden; besides bringing East Melbourne, Richmond, and Collingwood in a more ready contact with South Yarra, it has largely increased the number of visitors to this place.
The entrances to our extensive area being numerous, it lay not within our means to ascertain the exact number of our visitors during the year; but since within the last five months, 51,000 were counted as entering the gardens on Sunday afternoons at the principal gates, notwithstanding much unfavorable weather during that period, it may be assumed that the total number of visitors during the last year must have rather exceeded than have fallen short of 200,000.
But not only as a place of healthful and instructive recreation, but also as a source of supply, the Botanic Garden has not been without public utility.
During the year, thirty-nine public institutions in the colony and fifty-three abroad, as well as 206 private applicants (the latter in reciprocation or under a promise of sending equivalents), have been furnished with supplies from this department, the number of plants contributed by us to the gardens of the colony amounting to 7120, and the papers of seeds to the large amount of 22,438, besides which cuttings have been supplied to fifty-seven gardens; whilst we furnished on fifty-seven occasions bows and flowers needed for decoration in celebrating public festivals or aiding benevolent purposes.
Arrangements have been made to render next season a still larger supply of plants available for distribution; and in the same degree as the completion of the garden will strengthen our labors in this particular branch of the service, and in proportion to our constant additions and improvements in the means of forcing and rearing plants, the utility of our establishment in this direction may be expected to increase.
Twenty-two cases with living plants were forwarded to the neighboring colonies or to more distant countries, and nineteen have been received as donations or in exchange from the Botanical Gardens of Auckland, Kew, Adelaide, Brisbane, Buitenzorg, Hobarton, and from Messrs. I. Bailey, Adelaide;
8
J. Bailey?
F. Bailey, Wellington; F. Ferguson, Camden; Captain Kreeft, Wellington; Messrs. Shepherd, Sydney; and D. Wilkinson, Wellington. Other importations were effected by purchase.
Three shows of the Horticultural Society, and a bazaar in aid of the South Yarra Episcopal School fund, have been held on our ground; and exhibitions so pleasing and useful as these are likely to be of more frequent occurrence after the contemplated erection of a larger pavilion for such purposes.
How far we have succeeded in adding to the richness of this establishment may be observed by a comparison of the Garden Catalogue, which accompanies this report,
9
Not reproduced here. See B58.11.02.
with the Index of Plants under cultivation here at the beginning of 1857,
10
B57.13.07.
since which period the number of plants has become more than doubled. The new Catalogue enumerates about 3300 species, but it might have been vastly augmented had we added the mere garden varieties, although often of greater value to the horticulturist than new and distinct species, or had we included in the enumeration those endless numbers of hybrid plants which supersede in gardens generally too much the simple forms of nature.
The compilation of the Catalogue caused work much beyond anticipation, since so many plants were received nameless, or under erroneous appellations. For the above reason several hundred plants have been excluded which are not yet sufficiently developed for an accurate botanical examination. The future annual supplements will furnish ready means of measuring the progress of our establishment in this direction. By the contributions expected from kindred institutions in many parts of the globe, and by the friendly co-operation promised by several of the greatest savants in botanical science, and it is hoped by the continued patronage and exertions of the many friends of our garden, we shall probably add very extensively to the garden plants from the seeds to be gathered for us at the approaching season, and when the dormant state of trees and shrubs with deciduous leaves facilitates their transmission from distant countries. Both for interchange, and for enriching our own establishment, seedlings of the remarkable and rare plants of the Grampians were secured at the season favorable for their transit; and Mr. Dallachy, who carried out very successfully this part of the service, is now engaged in transferring to us from the Murray desert those botanical treasures which scarcely any garden yet possesses.
A botanical collector has been employed periodically in the Moreton Bay district,
11
Charles Stuart. See M to W. Haines, 1 March 1858.
and steps have also been taken to secure this season for the garden more yet of the singular vegetation of Western Australia than during the preceding one; inasmuch as no country, South Africa excepted, furnishes a greater variety of highly ornamental plants calculated to resist the dry heat of the Australian summer.
The contributions towards the Botanic Garden, although not equal to those furnished by our establishment, have nevertheless evinced the active interest of many here and abroad in our progress, as may be observed from the long list of donations of either seeds or plants from the following ladies and gentlemen
Abbot, Francis, Hobarton
Abel, Hamburgh
Alleyne, J., St. Kilda
Anderson, Colonel, C.B.
12
Possibly Joseph Anderson.
Anderson, Captain, South Yarra
Archer, W. H.
Bailey, J., Adelaide
Balfour, Professor Dr., Edinburgh
Barbeau, J. Mauritius
Barker, Mrs., Arthur's Seat
13
Probably Susannah Barker.
Barkly, His Excellency Sir Henry, K.C.B.
Barry, Honorable Judge
Beames, Sydney
Becker, Leopold
Behr, Dr., San Francisco
Belinfonte, Sob.
14
Typesetter’s error for Belinfante, Sol.?
Blackett, Collingwood
Blandowski, W. de
Bosisto, J., Richmond
Brahe, Richmond
Brandis, G., Adelaide
Brewster, Sandridge
15
G. F. Brewster; now Port Melbourne.
Brooke, J. H., M.L.A.
Brooks, C., Caroline-Street, South Yarra
Brown, Como
16
John Brown (1804-1871)
Brown, Mrs., South Yarra
Buchanan, W., Sealer's Cove
Bull, W. R.
Bunce, D., Geelong
Burnett, Melbourne
Burrell, Capt., Williamstown
Cairns, John, Melbourne
Campbell, Colin, M.L.A.
Campbell, D. S., M.L.A.
Carter, James, London
17
The well-known London seedsman James Carter died in 1855 but the business continued as James Carter & Co. See also M to J. O'Shanassy, September 1858 (in this edition as 58-09-00a), and M to W. Nicholson, 6 June 1860 (in this edition as 60-06-06a).
Castella, Paul de
Chamberlain, Prahran
Chapman, Ch.
Christie, F. C.
Cobham, Mrs.
Cole, Captain
18
George W. Cole?
Cole, Commissioner, Murray River
19
Stephen Cole.
Collier, David
Couzens, B. E., Mount Korong
Crozier, Dr.
Dallachy, John
Dardell, Geelong
Dick, Matth., New York
20
Probably the seedsman Matthew Dick of Philadelphia.
Dickinson, Southport
Doughty, C. G.
Duffy, Honorable C. G.
Elliott, Al.
Embling, Dr., M.L.A.
Engel, Julius
Evans, Honorable Dr.
Ferguson, W., Heidelberg
Ferguson, Francis, Camden
Fish, Emerald Hill
Ford, W., St. Kilda
Francis, G., Adelaide
Galt, A.
Gill, Jam.
Gray, Professor Dr. Asa, Boston
Greathead, Gardiner's Creek
Greeves, Dr., M.L.A.
Hall, Plenty River
21
Three brothers named Hall were among the early settlers at Yan Yean in the Plenty River valley, Vic (see D. Edwards (1978), p. 56).
Hance, Dr., Hong Kong
Hance, Castlemaine
Henderson, E. G.. and Son, St. John's Wood
Heyne, E. B.
Hill, Walt., Brisbane
Hillebrand, Dr., Honolulu
Hooker, Sir William, Kew
Houtte, Louis van, Ghent
Howitt, Dr.
22
Godfrey Howitt.
Hull, W., Richmond
Hunter, A. M., Williamstown
Judd, Thomas
Kay, Captain
Kerr, W.
Krichauff, F., Macclesfield
Kruse, J.
Lamford, Edward, Castlemaine
Lange, Breslau
Lange, J., Copenhagen
Las Cascas, Consul
Layard, Captain, St. Kilda.
Ligar, Surveyor General
Lightfoot, South Yarra
Lindley, Professor Dr., London
Loring, Capt., Commander of the Iris, C.B.
Maxwell, G., Albany
May, William, St. Kilda
Merrett, S. H.
Michie. A., M.L.A.
Middleton, William, Windsor
Milligan, Dr. Jos., Hobarton
Mitchell, Flemington
Mitchell, W., Skipton
Moody, Town Clerk, of Collingwood
Moore, Charles, Sydney
Moore, J., Under Secretary
Moore, Thomas, Chelsea
Morgan, Dr., Murrumbidgee
Massie, R. G.
Maund, Miss E.
Mueller, Dr.
McArthur, Hon. Major-General, C.B.
23
Edward MacArthur.
McArthur, D.C.
McCoy, Professor
McGillivray, Dr., Williamstown
McMillan, Th.
Nankivell
Newell, Hooper, and Stephens
24
i.e. Newell, Hooper & Stevens.
Newman, Hobarton
Oldfield, Aug.
Palmer, Sir James, Pres. L.C.
Perry, Right Rev. C., Bishop of Melbourne
Phelps, H., Deniliquin
Pittman, J., South Yarra
Poole, G. H.
Pyke, V.
Ralph, Dr. T. S., Snapper Point
Ralstone,
25
Alex Ralston.
South Yarra
Ridge, Oliver, South Park
Ross, B., Mount Korong
Ross, W., Murray
Rule, J. J., Richmond
Ruttor, Dr., London
Sangston
Selby, G. W.
Shaw, Walter
Shepherd, South Yarra
Shepherd,
26
Thomas Sheppard?
Buninyong
Shepherd, Sydney
Shomburgk, R., Gawler Town
Short
Slade, Lieut. Edgar, Alberton
Smith, Lower Darling
Smith and Adamson
Sonder, Dr., Hamburgh
Stoney, Captain
Stypmann, L.
Tarleton, J. M.
Taylor, C. H.[,] Magill
27
editorial insertion.
Thozet, Sydney
Thwaites, G., Ceylon
Turnbull
Tyler, C., South Yarra
Wade, Launceston
Wadsworth, W.
Walker, J. H., Upper Plenty
Wallis, Port Fairy
Weidenbach, Max., Adelaide
Wells, Port Fairy
Whelan, John, Emerald Hill
Wilhelmi, Charles
Wilkinson, D., Wellington
Wilson, E.
Wilson, J.S., London
Winter, Aloyse
Woolley, Alfred
Woolls, W., Parramatta
Wright, Barrister
Wright, Commissioner, Wimmera
Young, His Excellency Sir Henry, C.B., Tasmania
Amongst the varied contributions, those from Sir William Hooker, K.H., of Kew, and from Mr. Louis van Houtte, of Ghent, have proved of the highest value. Besides, I have to bring specially under notice the zealous efforts of Capt. Kreeft, of the Marchioness, to serve our establishment by a regular transmission of Wardian cases from and to New Zealand, and the spontaneous offer kindly made by Mr. Wetton, of Sydney, to aid the transit of plants to and from this establishment by the Royal Mail steamers. Capt. Loring, C.B., Commander of H.M.S. Iris, as well as Messrs. Turnbull and Henty, have obligingly rendered us a similar favor.
In importing plants due preference has been given to those of utility and more general interest, and many of practical value are already contained in our collection. Amongst them — various Spice plants, the Tallow tree, the Nettle tree of Illawarra, the Desert
Clianthus

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(which was figured as a notable flower already by Capt. Dampier), the Bottle tree of Sir Thomas Mitchell, the Litchi tree, the Cherimoir, the Banyan tree, the tall Pampas grass, the prolific Prairie
Festuca

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, the edible
Hovenia

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, the Gunyang, the Staranis, the Paraguay and the Chinese Tea, the Camphor tree, the Tulip tree, Waratah, Bananas, the American Sarsaparilla, the Cork tree, the Giant Pine of California, the Cochineal Cactus, the Chinese Grass-cloth plant, the Australian and Indian Rotang, the Coffee tree, the Cotton plant (which now without protection occasionally ripens its pods), the Red Cedar, the Kaurie Pines from East Australia, Polynesia, and New Zealand, Bog Bean,
Acorus

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,
Nelumbium

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or Sacred Pythagorean Bean, many medicinal plants, &c.
In a memoir published by the Philosophical Institute of Victoria, in their Transactions of 1857,
28
B58.05.02.
some guidance has been offered to the colonists in selecting for their gardens those plants which are deserving prominently a distribution over the settlements.
Since neither in the narrow rooms of this office, nor in the rather remote University Museum, the collections of botanical specimens can be so readily consulted as might be desired, a Herbarium, comprising 971 species of Victorian plants, has been prepared for the Public Library, where it will be gradually completed. The much more extensive University collection has been amply added to, particularly of extra-Victorian plants; and, besides, more than 5000 specimens of dried plants have been furnished to learned associations or scientific men abroad, for which we may expect an occasional return to our public collection. The following gentlemen have been contributing to our herbarium during the year: — Messrs. W. de Blandowski, G. Brandis of Enfield, G. Francis of Adelaide, Dr. Hance of Hong Kong, Mr. Walt. Hill of Brisbane, Professor Dr. Jessen of Greifswalde, Rev. Mr. King
29
Robert King.
of Parramatta, Messrs. G. Maxwell of Albany, McGillivray of Williamstown, Charl. Moore of Sydney, A. Oldfield of Hobarton,
30
Probably the botanical collector Augustus Oldfield's schoolteacher brother Alfred. Augustus was In Melbourne for part of the preceding year and then in WA collecting for M.
Dr. W. Sonder of Hamburgh, Mr. Thozet of Sydney, Dr. Williams of Queenscliff, Rev. Jul. Woods of Penola, and Mr. W. Woolls of Parramatta.
The first fascicle of the "Flora of Victoria,"
31
B62.03.03. See Cavanagh (1988).
for which some lithographic illustrations are prepared, would have been issued already, had it not appeared advisable to the Government Botanist to extend his botanical investigations previously towards Cape Howe and to the south-western points of the Australian Alps, both localities being hitherto phytologically unexplored, and likely to offer manifold transitions to the vegetation of East Australia or Tasmania, not only interesting for determining the range of the species, but likewise essential for a perfect enumeration of the plants of Victoria. Meanwhile, the examination of our native plants did not cease, as may be observed from the annexed fourth Index of Indigenous Plants,
32
Not reproduced here. See B58.11.02.
comprising a list of mosses, lichenastra and lichens, prepared by Messrs. Mitten and Hampe and Drs. Carl Mueller and Gottsche, and an enumeration of those phanerogamic species which, with the exception of several contributed by Mr. Wilhelmi's tour to the Grampians, resulted from journeys of the Government Botanist since his return from the North Australian expedition, viz., to the south-west portion of the colony, to Cape Otway and Apollo Bay, and to the sources of the Yarra Yarra and La Trobe Rivers, including also a few which remained undetermined in his former collections. This Index advances the hitherto examined plants of the colony to more than 2200 species. The occurrence of the finest of all sea-weeds,
Claudea elegans

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, at Western Port, the discovery of an epiphytal orchid (
Sarcochilus Barklyanus

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) within our territory — and, remarkably enough, only at one of its southern extremities, namely, at Apollo Bay — remain equally interesting with recognizing in the genera
Philydrum

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and
Brasenia

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the natural orders of Philydreæ and Cabombeæ as new to our Flora.
Many of the plants of this colony have been critically re-examined with the aid of a valuable herbarium, now comprising plants from almost every part of the Australian continent hitherto revealed to geography.
Of plants imperfectly known or recently discovered, and contained in our State collections, descriptions found publicity either in the "Transactions of the Philosophical Institue" or in the "Fragmenta Phytographiæ Australiæ," of which the fourth number is under preparation. In the latter it is the aim to accumulate gradually the literary material for a Universal Flora of Australia, and for the continuation of which dried plants from any part of the Australian continent and the adjacent islands, but particularly from remotest settlements and from the almost impenetrable, and therefore little explored, forests of Eastern Australia, would be gratefully received.
The Government Botanist's Office afforded likewise information to many correspondents in and beyond the Australian colonies, and was honored by His Excellency Sir William Denison with submitting for report those plants secured by Mr. A. Gregory in his last journey, and, by permission of Her Majesty's Home Government, to finish the examination of the botanical specimens which resulted from the North Australian expedition.
The intended erection of a larger building in the reserve will offer to the Government Botanist the opportunity not only to deliver a regular course of phytological lectures during future seasons, and collect gradually, for the formation of a botanical museum and experimental laboratory, the vegetable products of the colony, but also to give the fullest access to his extensive and carefully examined botanical collections, which he desires, although they have absorbed the greater part of his private means and nearly all his leisure time for the last eighteen years, to transfer permanently to this department as a nucleus of a State collection. It comprises one of the most important series of Australian plants anywhere in existence, which will probably be consulted centuries hereafter, and which amounts to about 6000 well-marked species in very numerous varieties, and embraces also an herbarium of miscellaneous plants from all parts of the globe, enhanced in value by many authentic specimens from the hands of celebrated botanical authors, the whole forming an accumulation of about 45,000 equally well preserved and arranged specimens, and exhibiting in about 15,000 species nearly one-sixth of the hitherto revealed vegetation of the world.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient and humble Servant,
FERD. MUELLER,
Government Botanist and Director of the Botanic Garden.
The Hon. the Chief Secretary,
&c., &c., &c.
33
See also M to J. O'Shanassy, 1 November 1858 where M requests 100 copies of this report for distribution and the request is granted.