Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M70, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 72.01.17

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Thomas Kirk to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1872-01-17. 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/1870-9/1872/72-01-17-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

Grafton Road
Auckland
17' Jany 1872
My dear Baron von Mueller
Three letters from you
1
Letters not found.
remind me forcibly of something like carelessness on my part in neglecting to reply I have however been overworked and thoroughly ill therefrom, so that for a time all work , especially writing was necessarily laid aside.
Rhabdothamnus Solandri

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. I will endeavour to send a suite of specimens together with some other plants looked out for you.
Dacrydium Kirkii

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Isoete

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&c &c
Hydrocotyle I think you already possess specn from the Great Barrier.:
2
Great Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf, east of Auckland, NZ.
has not your H. pterocarpa "winged" fruit? I will send specn of our plant.
Colensoa

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, is only found in the extreme north, I have none in cultivation.
Arundinaria macrosperma

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. — I can send you roots, but have no dried specn I will also forward roots of Rhabdothamnus as soon as the dry season is past.
I have never seen Rhabdothamnus more than 8 feet in height. When growing amongst shaded rocks it is usually laden with flowers and forms a striking object, but is obstinate enough under cultivation
When recovering I went to the Bay of Isds
3
Bay of Islands, NZ.
for a week or two but was unable to get about to any extent. I saw
Ackama

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in flower, noble trees 70 feet high — with flowers resembling Spirea
4
Spiraea?
barbata and foliage surpassing Pyrus aucuparia wh it closely resembles My only other plant of note was Pittosporum pimeleoides (wh I now have under cultn
5
cultivation.
) it is united with P. reflexum by my P. Gilliesianum wh is intermediate
Next week I start for the hot lake country and hope to ascend Tongariro and Ruapahau
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Ruapehu?
wh rise to 8,000f
7
feet.
in the centre of the island
Believe me to be with kind regards
Yours truly
J. Kirk
Can you determine the enclosed rayless Anthemide for me
8
Pencilled addition by Kirk.