The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Springsure ¶ 17/6. 71 ¶ ¶ Since I wrote last I discovered that Eucalyptus melissiodora found at first by Sir Th. Mitchel on a tree in a barren condition is but an artificial product generated on the...

Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 71.06.17

Plant names

Eucalyptus citriodora
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Eucalyptus melissiodora
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Rulingia
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Vitis clematidea
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Preferred Citation:

Ernest Wuth to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1871-06-17. 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/1870-9/1871/71-06-17-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

MS found with a specimen of (MEL 1609874), collected by Dr Wuth, Barcoo, Qld.

Springsure

Qld.

17/6. 71

Since I wrote last I discovered that found at first by Sir Th. Mitchel on a tree in a barren condition is but an artificial product generated on the stump of Hooker after its trunc was destroyed by fire or separated from the roots by the saw of Bushmen — This time I found myself in a small forrest surrounding our Cliffs and formed principally by those beautifull and slender Eucalypti whose stately trunc with its shiny white bark reminds one on the Birch at home and whose splendid foliage brings gladness in our hearts at the Whitsuntide feasts

Some sawyers had made havock among those trees and all the stumps I examined had shoots presenting a mixture of branches and leaves of the rough, thick and rather fleshy Euc. melissiodora and the smooth, slender and hardy Euc. citriodora — It was even perceived, that their smell somewhat differed — The first Specimen I sent you was also from a Stump but I did not make then this discovery — No perfect or undisturbed trees of Euc. citriodora had any leaves resembling those of Euc. melissiodora — It is therefore conclusive, that roots or stumps of Euc. citriodora remaining vital after their trunc was destroyed are able to reproduce shoots representing branches and leaves differing in their form and botanical character.

In the packets I send by this mail you will find the Bark of the pure or undisturbed Euc. citriodora and that of its stumps on which was found the abnormal growth — Flowers, fruit or Seed I was at all times unable to discover on the trees nor were they known to any Bushman I asked; but to this point will be directed my further attention

The peculiarity of formation and difference of leaves on one and the same branch has surprised a few of our more intelligent men here, but they even did not know that those leaves are highly odoriferous — The fresh leave when plucket on the mountains and rubbed between your fingers causes an odour so strong as to effect the peculiar prickeling sensation of Ammonia to the nostrils, it is indeed a restorative to the fatigued nerves of the climber. A complete Specimen of Leichh., roots, bulbs & seed. No. 258 is another wonderfull Specimen of a Growth on our high Cliffs; resting as it does on a surface smooth and perpendicular, and presenting it's upper leaves like the horns of a snail, human phantasy might be carried so far as to take this peculiar plant for a monstrosity of that animal. It appeared to me as if the extraordinary plant was secured on the critical spot by its own glutenous sap rather than by roots and which indeed appear to be few only and of delicate structure

Yours faithfully

E M Wuth.