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69.11.00c

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Lewis Bernays to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1869-11 [69.11.00c]. 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/1860-9/1869/69-11-00c-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from a letter by Bernays in 'Foreign correspondence', Gardeners' chronicle and agricultural gazette , 13 September 1873, p. 1244. Bernays's letter to M is dated by reference to M to L. Bernays, 28 November 1869, which is a response it.
[ Brisbane, July 5 :
Phajus Bernaysii

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. — In your issue of March 15 last I observe a notice of the Phajus which I was fortunate enough to discover, but your information as to its sponsor being inaccurate I would ask permission to make the necessary correction in your columns.
2
Reichenbach (1873) described Phajus berneysii, and attributed the name to 'Rowl.'. In the commentary, Reichenbach wrote 'Whether the plant may stand as a botanical species is not easy to judge actually, yet it is uncommonly coloured, hence welcome to us, the opposition of sulphur-coloured flowers, white outside, being very nice. Dr. Bemeys, no doubt, highly deserved the compliment paid him by Dr. Rowland. I have to thank Messrs. Veitch for the material.'
M did not describe the plant. M's note attached to a specimen sent by Bernays (MEL 677540) states: 'This species has been sent in a living state to Kew. It seems distinct from any others hitherto described by its peculiar color. I left it undescribed.'
I found the plant on Stradbroke Island among thousands of its congener,
Phajus grandifolius

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, from which when not in flower it is with difficulty distinguished. …
I lost no time, upon my return to Brisbane, in sending a specimen of the Phajus to one of our most eminent botanists, Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, of Melbourne, who unhesitatingly pronounced it new, and honoured me by attaching to it the specific name of Bernaysii. My friend, Dr. Rowland, of Malvern, was good enough to allow me to consign to him a case of the plants, to be placed in the hands of the eminent firm of Messrs. Veitch & Son, and from that fact has doubtless arisen the mistake of making Dr. Rowland the sponsor of the plant. …
Lewis A. Bernays , F. L. S., Vice-President, Queensland Acclimatisation Society .]