Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1858-70, f. 388. 69.06.17a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Joseph Hooker, 1869-06-17 [69.06.17a]. 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/69-06-17a>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
MS annotation: 'Noted J.S.' (i.e. John Smith (1821-88)).
17/6/69
By the Yorkshire, dear Dr Hooker, I have sent you two plants of
Xanthorrhoea Australis

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, not very large, which I had lifted this week.
2
The receipt of 'a dry box containing Xanthorroea australis' was recorded at Kew on 28 September (RBG Kew, Kewensia, Inwards Book 1868–1872, p. 196, entry number 305).
The nearest sandy heath ground, where I could conveniently obtain them, is 70 miles from here.
It is doubtful whether you will succeed with these plants, though Mr Kidd sent successfully a N.S.W. Xanthorrhoeae to Kew some years ago.
I find, even when I place them into sandy heath-soil, that they die after a time and so is it with the
Kingia

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s. Still I may be more successful with new trials.
I thought it best to select two comparatively small plants for trial, so as not to incur for you an enormous freight. Large ones could be sent afterwards. It seems the plants live for a time on the sap of their stem and then go off. I packed them in a close case. That will be better and securer than a glass-case.
Let me remain
your regardful
Ferd von. Mueller
I hope you will see my good will to fulfill your wishes. I have no other Xanthorrhoea in Victoria except X. minor. From near Adelaide you might get X. semiplana (as well as X. quadrangulata)