The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Melbourne bot Garden ¶ 4/6/70 ¶ ¶ The young fern tree, sent by you, dear Mr Boyle, interests me much. It is quite different not only from the Dicksonia Antarctica & Alsophila australis, but also from...

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Physical location:

Private hands. 70.06.04a

Plant names

Alsophila Leichhardtiana
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Alsophila australis
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Cyathea medullaris
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Dicksonia Antarctica
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- Australian Plant Name Index

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to David Boyle, 1870-06-04 [70.06.04a]. 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/1870-9/1870/70-06-04a-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

Published in Pretlove (2012), p. 74.

Melbourne bot Garden

4/6/70

The young fern tree, sent by you, dear Mr Boyle, interests me much. It is quite different not only from the & , but also from , found at Cape Otway. You may be right, that it is my , but your plant has broader scales to the stakes of the fronds and the rachis is less prickly rough. These differences might however be only those of youth. The fruit must show it, which is not developed on your plant. I see also some difference in the denticulations of the lobes of the fronds but these also may arise only from the young age. As soon as the exact species will have been ascertained I will make your discovery known

your regardful

Ferd. von Mueller