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65.09.00d

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Ferdinand von Mueller to the Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, 1865-09 [65.09.00d]. 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/1860-9/1865/65-09-00d-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Foreign correspondence. Australian vegetation', Gardeners' chronicle and agricultural gazette, 28 October 1865, p. 1013 (B65.10.02). The letter is dated to early September as the latest that it could have been written to have been included in this issue.
In the last number of my Fragmenta I have briefly reviewed the Palms of Australia, 13 in number. The most interesting is the Alexandra Palm (
Ptychosperma Alexandrae

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, F. M.), recently brought to light from the vicinity of the Fitzroy River of East Australia.
2
Qld. See B65.07.03, pp. 47-9; P. Alexandrae, drawn by A. Thozet and lithographed by F. Schönfeld, is illustrated on tab. XLIV.
It is one or the most graceful forms of the princely tribe of plants to which it belongs, being even more beautiful than the noble
Seaforthia elegans

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. It attains the height of 80 feet. Having through Mr. Edward Bowman obtained a quantity of seed, I hope to be able to introduce this fine Palm into many European collections. In the same number of the Fragmenta I have given an account of several new Fern trees, of which one especially is remarkable for its gracefulness, having, although 8 feet in height, a caudex only 1 inch thick. This fern tree is named
Alsophila Rebeccae

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.
3
B65.07.03, pp. 53-4.
In the previous number of the Fragmenta I have referred to the Australian
Pandaneae

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.
4
B65.06.02, pp. 39-40.
Robert Brown
5
Robert Brown (1773-1858).
was only acquainted with two; now we know seven, if the three
Freycinetia

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s shall finally prove distinct.
Pittosporum tenuifolium

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and eugenioides are found so far south in New Zealand, that I should think these fine trees will prove perfectly hardy in the milder parts of Britain. Where they grow in their native country sharp frosts are not unusual in the winter, as well as heavy snowfalls. If they can be naturalised without much trouble, nothing could surpass the ease with which these noble trees might be generally distributed, as the seeds keep well and germinate readily. There are other New Zealand plants from the southern parts of the Middle Island,
6
Now known as the South Island of NZ.
which merit the attention of European horticulturists. In the Mediterranean of course New Zealand plants would be in their element, wherever humidity and shelter prevail.
I have had the gratification of introducing the best variety of Mocha Coffee into the Feejee
7
Fiji.
islands. The plants sent from the Botanic Garden of Melbourne have proved very much more prolific than the ordinary variety previously introduced. One of the young trees, about three years old, bore at the first harvest 14 lb. weight of berries. The Chinese Tea plant has also found its way into the islands from my establishment, and seems to prosper there. At Ipswich, in Queensland, the Connecticut Tobacco has gained the palm over all the other varieties which I was instrumental in distributing in that part of Australia.
8
See M to the News editor of the Age (Melbourne), August 1865 (in this edition as 65-08-00b) and M to J. McCulloch, 30 September 1865.
The Shiraz Tobacco ought to grow well in some of the mountain districts of South Europe, where the autumnal dew-fall is regular.
Ferd. Mueller.